Diabetes is a treatable chronic health condition that is directly related to an individual’s ability to process sugar. Left untreated diabetes is lethal. Poorly treated diabetes can lead to significant health complications such as blindness, neuropathy in the lower legs/feet (no sensation), cardiovascular disease (heart/blood vessel) and kidney disease. There are many key terms that are important to define when having discussions related to diabetes:
Glucose: The amount of sugar present in the blood. Normal ranges would be between 3.9 mmol/L and 7.8 mmol/L throughout the day including immediately after meals (source).
Hyperglycemia: Elevated blood glucose levels
Hypoglycemia: Low blood glucose levels
Insulin: A hormone produced by the pancreas responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. Insulin also refers to the treatment for people with diabetes, different types of insulin can be administered by injection when the pancreas is unable to do so.
Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune disease where the pancreas is unable to produce insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes: The most common type of diabetes, often associated with lifestyle. The body becomes resistant to insulin or is unable to produce enough.
Gestational Diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes in the future for both the mother and child.
Risks for the People we Support
The most notable concern for the people we support is the increased risk of developing diabetes when compared to the general population. A study by the Institute for Clinical Evaluation Sciences found that people with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability (IDD) were 1.5 time more likely to have a diabetes diagnosis compared to adults without an IDD diagnosis the same age. Additionally, people with developmental disabilities are 2.6 times more likely to require hospitalization because of a diabetes diagnosis.
How to Support
Robert Balogh, one of the authors on the linked study above, stated: “Many of these hospitalizations could be prevented through primary care.” With that in mind some of the most important work is to support people who have diabetes in accessing their primary healthcare team (family doctor/nurse practitioner) and any specialists related to their diabetes diagnosis, such as diabetes nurse educators, dietitians, or endocrinologists. Working with the people we support to follow the guidance from their care providers is another important step in ensuring positive outcomes.
You are invited to the following workshop to learn more about supporting and empowering people with diabetes
For more information about this workshop or to register, please reach out to:
- Whitney Faragher at whitney.faragher@clhmidland.on.ca or 705-528-9823
- Sandra Martino at sandra.martino@clhmidland.on.ca or 705-229-9425
Conclusion
Being more aware of the risks that the people we support face when it comes to diabetes is an important step to ensuring the best possible outcomes. If you support somebody with diabetes and feel you would benefit from more information or learning, consider diabetes Canada for general information. For more information about diabetes and how it relates to IDD, consider the workshop on the poster above. You can also reach out to the Healthcare Strategies Manager at Karis to discuss case by case situations.
Gregory Crunican, Health Care Strategies Manager