SASKATOON – When it comes to Type 2 diabetes early detection is key. In some cases, the onset of disease can be slowed even stopped if discovered early enough and appropriate lifestyle changes are taken.
No one is immune but those most at risk were targeted by Saskatoon health care providers so those diagnosed could get the help they need sooner to stay healthier longer.
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In total, 395 people aged 20 to 39 years-old participated in one of a 12 screenings in the Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) known as the Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment Questionnaire (CANRISK). A statistically-validated tool aimed at detecting the risk of developing diabetes or pre-diabetes in five to 10 years.
“Inactivity, eating habits, all of those things are contributory in addition to the genetic part,” said Karen Davies, a registered dietitian with SHR.
While race is a factor that is out of anyone’s control, it’s the exact reason testing was narrowed down even further in Saskatoon with questionnaires offered specifically to those of first nation descent.
“Diabetes is high and it’s increasing, in our first nations population it’s four to five times higher than the general population,” added Lois Crossman, manager in chronic disease management at SHR.
“So it’s really imperative that we provide programs and we provide information, education, care and management for that population so we can look at reducing that risk,” she said.
What was once a serious concern for those over 40 is now a growing concern for those of child bearing years. Of the hundreds who were screened in the SHR, one of four sites in the country to facilitate CANRISK, 36 per cent were male and 64 per cent were female.
Preliminary results were as follows:
- 21 individuals had pre-diabetes;
- 13 were diagnosed with diabetes;
- 42 per cent of individuals had a mother, father or siblings with diabetes;
- 36 per cent had other family members with diabetes.
One of the questionnaire coordinators said there was one other alarming finding associated with participants waist measurements.
“It was really seeing the increase in abdominal obesity in our women population so I believe if you took in both our men and women together, over 80 per cent of them were classed overweight or obese,” said Laurel Leuschen, registered dietitian with SHR.
“That’s very disheartening, that’s very hard to hear as a health care professional.”
According to Leuschen, the dangers of a diagnosis don’t stop there.
“People with pre-diabetes are at a greater risk for developing heart disease in the future so once again the lifestyle changes of eating well and keeping active really helps to minimize that risk for developing heart disease as well.”
Anyone diagnosed with either pre-diabetes or diabetes received follow-up from health care providers to help lead them down a path towards better health.
To find out if you’re at risk, take the questionnaire by clicking on this link.