Pride News Canada's Leader In African Canadian & Caribbean News, Views & Lifestyle
By Allan Jones
Pride Health Columnist
Recently I came to the decision that DIE-OR-BEAT-THIS would be a more appropriate name for the medical condition we call diabetes. Too many of us are living a reduced and compromised life, or have died from the complications of diabetes. The truth is, if you do not deal with your diabetes, it will deal with you. You can end up with high blood pressure, a stroke, be blind, suffer a heart attack, have sexual dysfunction, kidney malfunction, nerve damage, or amputations, and more…….and even death.
It is time the Black community stand up to the condition and fight it medically and politically. Ask your municipal, provincial or federal politicians about their plans to reduce diabetes among their constituents. Do not let your politicians off the hook. Seek answers.
Right now there are over 9 million Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Of the number, 3 million are already diabetic, and the remaining 6 million are on the brink of becoming diabetic, however, with the right type of diet and other lifestyle modification the remaining 6 million Canadians can live a diabetes free life. The reality is that most of the 6 million Canadians who are pre-diabetic will become diabetic, adding to the worldwide diabetes epidemic.
Over the past three decades, the number of people with diabetes has more than doubled globally, making it one of the most important public health challenges to all nations.
The Black community has a disproportionately high rate of diabetes and high blood pressure. Combined, diabetes and high blood pressure account for two-third or 66% of the problems encountered by the kidneys. So many of us end up with chronic kidney disease, and some will move on to end-stage renal disease and in need of dialysis. The kidneys are very forgiving organs, so you can lose significant functioning and still feel good. So if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, it is important to have a kidney function test every year when you do your annual examinations, because you may be moving to a situation of complete loss of kidney function and do not know. The good news is that not everyone with chronic kidney disease will progress to a complete loss of kidney function or end-stage renal disease, and good control of your diabetes can spare you kidney from damage.
“Kidney Disease and its Connection to Diabetes” is the theme of the Fifth Annual Black Diabetes Expo happening on Saturday, April 26, at the Jamaican Canadian Centre at 995 Arrow Road in Toronto, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is free, parking is free, and there are free shuttle buses from Ajax and Malvern. Free lunch, courtesy of Viv’s Catering, will be provided for an optional contribution. To register for the Malvern bus or the expo call 1.800.226.8464, option 4, or visit diabetes.ca/black-expo. You can register for the Ajax bus, which leaves from Eco Health Resource & Wellness Centre, by calling 905.426.2222.
At the Expo, there will be non-stop onstage activities with myself, Allan Jones, as the host. Keynote Speaker will be Registered Nurse Jill Campbell, Regional Director of Ontario Renal Network, who will connect the dots between kidney disease and diabetes. She will be assisted by Transplant Nurse Coordinator, Galo Meliton. Diabetes Specialist, Dr. Denice Feig will examine the relationship between gestational and type 2 diabetes. A healthcare panel will take part in a discussion, and answer questions from the audience; so bring your questions and concerns. There will be free kidney disease screening. CANRISK, a questionnaire that helps Canadians identify their risk of pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, will be available. Completing the questionnaire gives patients an overall CANRISK score that shows their risk of having pre-diabetes or diabetes. Renal pharmacist Andria Reich, will look at the medications used in the treatment of kidney disease. To highlight the importance of physical activity as a way to reduce blood sugar level, there will be a Caribbean Dance Fit Demonstration by Suzette Dallas from SuzyMari Health & Fitness Studio. Several companies who provide diabetic supplies/products will mount displays at the Expo, and are available to answer questions or concerns you may have about the products that you use.
If you have diabetes, have a family member with diabetes, diagnosed as being pre-diabetic, or just have an interest in diabetes, you must be at the Black Diabetes Expo at the Jamaican Canadian Centre on Saturday, April 26 starting at 9:00 am and ending at 4:00 pm.
Allan Jones is a Health Promoter and Broadcaster. He can be heard on “Allan Bucka Jones LIVE”, Sundays from 3 to 5pm on CHRY 105.5 FM, www.chry.fm , Rogers Digital Cable 945, Bell Fibe 973 or mobile app TuneIn Radio. You can contact Allan Jones at ajones@jjmedical.ca.
