The link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease is the subject of a symposium to be held at College Boreal, Wednesday, April 23 sponsored by the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Dr. Zulfikar Juma, Sudbury cardiologist, will discuss Type 2 diabetes and the healthy heart. There is no charge for the event that starts at 7 p.m. in the Watters Room.
"Diabetes has become a worldwide public health problem of epidemic proportions. Diabetes affects primarily the cardiovascular system leading to premature death," said Dr. Juma.
"People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die of a cardiovascular event than those who do not have diabetes. In fact, 80 per cent of people with diabetes will die as a result of a vascular event."
According to a Sudbury and District Health Unit Health (SDHU) Status Report, in 2005, seven per cent of the SDHU area population age 12 and over, reported having been diagnosed with diabetes compared to five per cent of Ontarians.
The report states these numbers likely underestimate the true prevalence of diabetes in Greater Sudbury. It has been estimated that one-third of diabetes cases are undiagnosed. Cardiovascular disease accounts for the highest number of deaths due to disease.
Evidence indicates the onset of cardiovascular disease can be prevented or delayed through earlier prevention techniques, earlier diagnosis and by more aggressive treatment of diabetes.
