An online community dedicated to advocacy, education, and assistance for those living with Diabetes
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What Does Diabetes Look Like?Which one of these people are living with diabetes? Do you think that you can guess? The boy in the middle is the only one who is not living with diabetes but his chances of developing Type 1 diabetes are still higher than most. 1 in 4 Canadians are living with diabetes. With proper care and resources they will live to be productive members of society. You will not be able to pick them out from anyone else until you get to know them and see their strength and courage. Read more about people like these on our Faces of Diabetes and Priceless pages.
Data from the Canadian Diabetes Association The diagnosis rate of Type 1 diabetes is increasing at approximately 5% per year. from www.childrenwithdiabetes.com Our's is the first generation that will see parents outliving their children because of the devastating effects of diabetes on our younger population. *From the Senate Debates (page 4 from Senate Debates) --June 6, 2006 Hon. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell According to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention..... Diabetes is the sixth-leading cause of death by disease and costs approximately $132 billion per year in direct and indirect medical expenses. What is
Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the insulin producing cells of the body are no
longer able to function properly. In the case
of Type 2 diabetes, the insulin produced is not used properly to convert
food into energy for the body’s cells. For
those living with Type 1 diabetes, the insulin producing cells have been
completely destroyed by the body leaving the person dependent on an
external source of insulin given either through injection or
subcutaneous infusion via an insulin pump.
What are blood glucose levels and why do they matter? Your blood glucose level measures the amount of “sugar” in your blood. It is this “sugar” that acts as fuel for your cells. In a healthy person, this level should be between 4-7mmol/L after fasting and between 5-10mmol/L 2 hours after eating. For a person with diabetes, the ideal is to be able to artificially maintain these levels. That is not easy. They may see levels of high blood glucose--too much sugar and not enough insulin. This is called HYPERGLYCEMIA. A person experiencing a “high” will require a lot of fluids to help flush the sugar out of their system. They will feel the need to use the washroom more often. Their vision may become blurred and may experience headaches. Left untreated, this will cause a person to develop Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA results in a chemical imbalance of the blood. If this is not treated quickly and under doctor’s supervision, the person will die. If you or someone you love has just been diagnosed, here are some areas of Diabetes Advocacy that you may wish to visit: Diabetes Terms, Diabetes Care, Frequently Asked Questions, Diabetes Research, Diabetes News, Insulin Pumps, Products and Technology, Living with diabetes--our blog, books on diabetes, Taking Diabetes to School and now... Diabetes Advocacy Ask The Expert What's New at Diabetes Advocacy...
In the news...
For more news in the Diabetes World, go to our News page
Issues of ImportanceNational Issues: New Brunswick's April 1, 2008 budget will now cover insulin pumps and supplies for children under 18 years of age who have no private coverage! Saskatchewan's latest budget has included pump coverage for children!!! Congratulations Saskatchewan! Diabetes advocates welcomed the recent Saskatchewan provincial budget announcement of a Children’s Insulin Pump Program. The new program will provide children under the age of 17 who meet eligibility requirements with one pump every five years, and coverage for insulin pump supplies as regular benefits under the Drug Plan. This commitment will benefit families who pay approximately $6,000 per pump and an additional $300 per month in supply costs.
Watch for more advocacy updates.
Join us as we go through the new process of getting an insulin pump and supplies for a child with Type 1 diabetes in Newfoundland and Labrador who needs a replacement pump in December 2007. Please contact the CBC about the article they have published on the dangers of insulin pumps. If you support insulin pumps for Canadians living with diabetes. To see our response to the original story, please read our blog or click on the CBC link to read what we sent to them. Air Travel
Passengers
are now permitted to bring liquids, gels and aerosols through security
screening at Canadian airports provided that the items are packaged in
containers with a capacity of 90 ml / 90 grams (3 oz.) or less, and that
the containers fit comfortably in one clear, closed and resealable
plastic bag with a capacity of no more than 1 litre (1 quart). One bag
per passenger is permitted. Passengers must remove the closed,
re-sealable plastic bag containing all permitted liquids, gels, and
aerosols and place them directly into the trays provided at the
beginning of the screening process.
Long- and short-haul travel by air: issues for people with diabetes on
insulin
Initiatives Check out the many initiatives and ideas going on in Canada regarding diabetes awareness and diabetes care...Protecting children with diabetes in school The Disability Tax Credit...Is a Federal Tax Credit given to those who qualify by either having a Disability as defined by the Canadian Revenue Agency or require "Life Sustaining Therapy" like those living with Type 1 Diabetes. As of the 2004 tax year, children under 15 years of age will be considered to require 14 hours of care simply by having the physician sign the T2201 stating that they do have Type 1 Diabetes. This will not be dependent on the method of insulin delivery used. If you have received a letter from CRA stating that your pumping child no longer qualifies under the old regulations please take heart. They are not saying that your child does not qualify for the DTC. They are stating that should the legislative change go through, insulin pump therapy will no longer be a reason to qualify for the DTC. The reason will now be the fact that your child has Type 1 Diabetes. Please remember that if you are a parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes who does not have a taxable income, it is still important for you to apply for this credit. When your child qualifies for the DTC, he/she will then also qualify for a disabled tax benefit (up to $200 per month) under your Child Tax Benefit. If you are an adult or have a child over 15 years, the process will be slightly more labour intensive. Please go to our DTC tips page for specific details. Again, please remember...The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) decision to allow the DTC for eligible individuals with Type 1 diabetes who receive daily injections of insulin resulted from recent Tax Court of Canada decisions and applies to the 2004 and subsequent taxation years. ![]() If you enjoy the work of Diabetes Advocacy and the information presented on this site, please consider supporting our efforts through your purchases of diabetes awareness and medical items from our Online Store. |
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