Healthwise Symptom Checker
DYK MyHealth.Alberta.ca offers an interactive feature known as: Healthwise Symptom Checker.
Check your symptoms at:
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but are not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Although not everyone with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes, many people will.
Understanding prediabetes
Symptoms, treatment, and complications from prediabetes may vary from person to person. Managing your blood sugar can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The key is a healthy lifestyle.
The most common signs and symptoms of diabetes are:
• unusual thirst
• frequent urination
• weight change (gain or loss)
• extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• blurred vision
• frequent or recurring infections
• cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• trouble getting or maintaining an erection
Prediabetes is a precursor for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your body can’t make enough insulin, or your body is unable to properly use the insulin it makes. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body to control the level of sugar in your blood.
If your body can’t use its insulin properly, glucose (sugar) builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy. This excess sugar in your blood causes problems and can lead to serious health complications.
It’s important to take a prediabetes diagnosis seriously because some long-term complications associated with diabetes—such as heart disease—may begin during prediabetes.
Preventing type 2 diabetes
The good news is that more than half of people with prediabetes can delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Taking steps now to improve your lifestyle can make a huge difference and lead to a healthier future.
If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by:
– Follow a health-promoting diet such as Canada’s Food Guide
– Exercise regularly, start with a 10-minute walk three times a week and start slowly increase to 150 minutes per week
– Discuss weight management with your healthcare provider
– Add more vegetables to your plate
– Cook meals at home more often
– Choose whole-grain foods
– Drink water instead of soda or juice
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
1) Reduce your risk
Decreasing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes involves making lifestyles changes. Eating healthy, moving more, and losing weight if you live with overweight or obesity are the most effective things you can do to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Even if you’ve already been told that you have prediabetes or that you have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, you can still make changes that can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.
2) A healthy eating plan
Diet is the most important part of lifestyle change. Small changes can make a big difference and help you take those first few steps to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes
A good first step is to include more vegetables, more plant-based protein such as beans and lentils, whole grains, dairy, lean meat, oily fish, nuts and healthy oils such as olive oil. You can also reduce consumption of highly processed foods, refined grains such as white bread, sugary food and sugary drinks.
3) Movement and exercise
Movement and exercise can also help you prevent diabetes. Just a little extra activity each day can go a long way.
Start with limiting the amount of time spent sitting. Interrupt your sitting time by standing up and moving around briefly every 20 to 30 minutes.
Another goal could be to get at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week (like walking, bicycling or jogging). Smaller amounts of activity can still have healthy benefits.
4) Weight management
If you have pre-diabetes, an eating and exercise plan that helps with weight management can help to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. Research shows that if you live with obesity, losing just 5% of your initial body weight can prevent type 2 diabetes from developing. Speak to your healthcare provider about a plan that can work for you.
Start by changing one thing at a time and try to set realistic goals. Too many changes can be overwhelming, small changes can build lasting habits over time.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month – Let’s Make Time to Learn More
Living with diabetes can feel like a full-time job, but many people don’t understand the challenges that come with managing this complex, often invisible condition. Let’s change that.
Diabetes is a condition in which the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas.
Insulin’s role is to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Blood sugar must be carefully regulated to ensure that the body functions properly. Too much blood sugar can cause damage to organs, blood vessels, and nerves. Your body also needs insulin to use sugar for energy.
Types of diabetes
There are three major types of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common diagnosis, followed by type 1 diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is usually temporary. In addition, prediabetes is another important diagnosis that indicates an elevated risk of developing diabetes.
Type 1
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes aren’t able to produce their own insulin (and can’t regulate their blood sugar) because their body is attacking the pancreas. Roughly 10 percent of people living with diabetes have type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes. It generally develops in childhood or adolescence but can also develop in adulthood. People with type 1 need to inject insulin or use an insulin pump to ensure their bodies have the right amount of insulin.
Type 2
People with type 2 diabetes can’t properly use the insulin made by their bodies, or their bodies aren’t able to produce enough insulin. Roughly 90 percent of people living with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It is most commonly developed in adulthood, although it can also occur in childhood, it can sometimes be managed with healthy eating and regular exercise alone, but may also require medications or insulin therapy.
If you think you or someone you know may have type 2 diabetes, please speak to a doctor or health-care provider.
National Child Day
November 20 is National Child Day in Canada.
There are 8 million kids in Canada, and they all have something in common—their rights!
This year’s theme, #8MillionEmpowered, highlights our collective goal to empower all 8 million kids in Canada by defending their rights and ensuring they have the support to thrive. Children and youth are not merely future dreamers, but present-day innovators, leaders and changemakers. They are setting the stage for a brighter, more inclusive Canada with compassion, courage and conviction. Empowered young people can make a difference now, not just someday.
Did You Know?
There are 4 groups of rights for children:
1. Survival rights
2. Development rights
3. Protection rights
4. Participation rights
Lunch & Learn – Understanding Elder Abuse
Drumheller Legion Branch #22 invites all seniors to attend their second Community Seniors Initiative Lunch & Learn – Understanding Elder Abuse
All seniors in the community are welcome to attend, free lunch will be provided.
For more information please call 403-823-5611
heal Website
heal – Health Education and Learning program – https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/heal/heal.aspx
heal is an online resource aimed at providing families across Alberta easily accessible, reliable information about common minor illness and injuries in children. The content provided in the HEAL program comes directly from the Pediatric Emergency Medicine experts at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and Stollery Children’s Hospital.
While children with coughs, fever, ear pain, vomiting, diarrhea, minor head injuries or nosebleeds can feel very uncomfortable, they are most often safely and best cared for in their own home; the majority of these illnesses and injuries do not require a visit to the Emergency Department.
Here you will find general information about the causes, symptoms and home management options for common minor illnesses and injuries, and when to seek medical care: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/heal/heal.aspx
Fall Prevention Tips for Kids
Falling is a typical part of development as children walk, climb, run, jump, play and explore their environment. While most falls in children don’t cause serious injury, nearly 4,500 children from birth to 14 years were admitted to a hospital in a single year as a result of a fall. This makes falls the leading cause of hospital admissions from injury in those ages 0 to 14.
As children grow older, where they fall changes.
• Infants and young toddlers typically fall around the home – from furniture, beds, change tables, highchairs or down the stairs.
• Older toddlers tend to fall while walking, running or crawling around the house.
• Children between 5 and 9 years of age most often fall at playgrounds.
Home should be a safe place for children to learn and grow. However, most fall-related injuries to children under five happen in the home. Children are vulnerable in this environment because heights, space and structures are built for adult use and comfort, often creating hazards for children. Children also have a natural curiosity about their environment and love to explore.
Safety Tips
❧ Take time to get down on the ground and look around to see the world through your child’s eyes to identify hazards around your home.
❧ Buckle your child in their highchair or stroller every time.
❧ Always set car seats and other carriers down on the floor, never on top of furniture.
❧ Always keep one hand on your child when they are on a high surface, such as a changing table or other furniture.
❧ Never use a baby walker with wheels – use stationary activity centres instead.
❧ Use stair gates in your home – Always use hardware mount gates at the top of stairs. Pressure mount gates can be used at the bottom of stairs.
❧ Place all furniture away from windows and door handles.
❧ Use window and door stops or guards.
❧ Keep stairs and high-traffic areas in your home free from clutter and tripping hazards.
❧ Wipe up any liquid spills right away to prevent slipping.
❧ Community and backyard playgrounds are common areas where children fall as they climb and explore playground equipment together.
November is Fall Prevention Month
Falls are the No. 1 reason for injury-related death, hospitalization and emergency department visits for older adults in Canada.
Our bodies naturally change with age and these changes affect the way we feel, move, and behave. A fall can have a devastating and lasting impact on a person, resulting in injury, chronic pain and a reduced quality of life. Even without an injury, a fall can cause an older adult to lose confidence and reduce their activities. The good news is that there are actions you can take to prevent falls.
Key strategies to prevent falls
These are the most effective steps you can take to prevent a fall, as assessed by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Finding Balance, a program for older adults and caregivers created by the Injury Prevention Centre at the University of Alberta.
• Exercise: challenge your balance and build strength.
• Get enough sleep.
• Take your time: don’t rush when walking or getting up.
• Balance your body through good nutrition and hydration.
• Get your sight and hearing checked regularly.
• Manage your medications and review them regularly with your pharmacist or doctor as some may make you prone to dizziness and falling.
• Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
• Consider using a cane or other mobility device if needed.
• Maintain proper use of eyeglasses and hearing aids.
In your home
• Make sure you have proper lighting in hallways, stairs and walkways, as well as in the bedroom and bathroom.
• Keep stairs free of clutter and exterior stairs and walkways free of clutter, ice or snow.
• Install handrails along stairs and safety grab bars in the bathroom.
• Check your home for slipping and tripping hazards and use non-slip mats or rugs.
• Ensure regularly used items are within reach.