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THE LEN LESSER REPORT  

THE LEN LESSER REPORT

 

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NOVEMBER IS DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH

Eleven million Canadians live with diabetes or pre-diabetes representing 1/3 of the population. If we process the numbers Thames Center with a population of 13,000 of which 4,300 people are trying to cope with the problem.

Type 2 Diabetes is not a disease like unto Epilepsy or Parkinson’s but rather a life style where most people choose to be overweight. Type 1 diabetics are usually born with the disease and need daily injections of Insulin to survive.

A friend of mine who is a Pediatrician explained it ver simply. Transport truck bodies and small sport
car Pancreases that can not absorb the extra sugar that we consume.

With Diabetes reaching epidemic scales, Diabetes Canada is advocating critical policy shifts it sees as essential to all Canadians. " We want to see that healthy choices become easy choices."

Sugar-sweetened beverages such as a tin of Coke with the equivalent of 15 teaspoons of sugar and
Tim Horton’s 4 by 4`s increases the risk of Type 2 Diabetes by 25% in people of a healthy weight class. Sad, that the lower the social economic status the more likely people are most at risk of Diabetes.

A recent survey showed that 90% of foods marketed to children in Ontario are unhealthy. The grocery store check-out displays are filled with cheap sugar laden sweet treats at eye level of children to see. Parents have to learn to say no and not give in to the marketing scams.

In Quebec, marketing to children has been illegal since 1980, and the children consume more fruits and vegetables the anywhere else in Canada. As a result of the legislation Quebec children are less likely to be overweight or obese.

I find it very troubling that 60% of Canadian adults and a third of children are overweight or obese: it is product of the Canadian environment in which we live.

As a result of Diabetes we have people who face amputation of their limbs, blindness and cardiovascular disease, strokes and a lot of other bad maladies that are completely avoidable if we but take care of our health through proper diet and exercise.

Life is all about choices and priorities; we have free will to live a long life filled with good health or suffer the negative path of overindulgence and a sedentary life style.

Education, awareness and labeling are important but in the end it is all about teahing our children to choose a healthy lifestyle. Parents like it or not you are positive or negative role models for your
children.

What is the risk? Do you carry a few extra kilos? Do you have high blood pressure? Does anyone in the family have Diabetes?

If you are sure if you are disposed to be a diabetic please make an appointment to see your family
doctor to have an assessment.

Len Lesser is an education counselor in Dorchester, Ont

Len Lesser

Len Lesser posts a report every week

You can email Len at lenlesser@hotmail.com