Take two minutes for type 2 diabetes

New campaign from Canadian Diabetes Association urges Canadians to make time for risk test

TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2015 /CNW/ - Do you ever spend time mindlessly watching TV, surfing the internet, playing games on your phone or daydreaming? Then the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) hopes you can find two minutes to take the CANRISK type 2 diabetes online risk test and take charge of your health.

The CDA estimates that more than 5.7 million Canadians have prediabetes. Even more alarming is that almost one million Canadians already have type 2 diabetes and don't know it. This new campaign, which pokes gentle fun at the ways we all waste time, reminds Canadians that learning their level of risk is simple yet vitally important.

"While we are making light of how time can be wasted, taking the test is no laughing matter," says CDA President and CEO, Rick Blickstead. "Diabetes has reached epidemic levels in this country, with more than 10 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through this campaign, we hope to remind people that by knowing the risk factors, you can make healthy changes in your life to potentially prevent type 2 diabetes, or reduce the risk of diabetes complications if you are living with the disease."

This year, the CDA is kicking off Diabetes Awareness Month two months early. Starting today, the organization is partnering with sponsors Sun Life Financial, Loblaw Companies Ltd, Shoppers Drug Mart, Novo Nordisk Canada and LifeScan in the fight against diabetes.

"At Sun Life we see firsthand the physical and financial impact diabetes has on Canadian families.  This is why we've committed to battling this disease, helping to improve the health and wellness of our customers, employees and the community," says Paul Joliat, assistant vice-president, philanthropy & sponsorships, Sun Life Financial. "Since 2012 Sun Life Financial has committed over $11 million dollars (CAD) in support of diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research."

Taking the test is simple—visit take2minutes.ca and click "Start" to begin. The campaign begins today and runs until November 30, 2015.

What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
Anyone over the age of 40 should be tested for diabetes every three years. Anyone who has one or more risk factors should be tested more frequently.

These risk factors include:

• Having a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes;
• Being a member of a high-risk group (Aboriginal, Hispanic, South Asian, Asian, or African descent);
• Having given birth to a baby that weighed more than four kilograms (nine pounds) at birth or having had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy);
• Having been diagnosed with prediabetes;
• Having other risk factors for blood vessel disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol);
• Being overweight, especially if that weight is mostly carried around the tummy.

See the complete list of risk factors for diabetes at diabetes.ca.

About the CDA
The CDA is the registered national charity that helps the more than 10 million Canadians with diabetes or prediabetes live healthy lives, and educates those at risk. In communities across Canada, the CDA:

• offers a wide array of support services to members of the public;
• offers resources to healthcare professionals on best practices to care for people with diabetes;
• advocates to governments, schools, workplaces and others on behalf of people with diabetes; and,
• funds research on better treatments and to find a cure.

For more information, visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

SOURCE Canadian Diabetes Association

or to schedule an interview, please contact: Krista Lamb, Communications Manager, Canadian Diabetes Association, Phone: [phone], [email protected]