Diabetes, a condition that affects a number of people every year across the globe in the form of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, costs high to health and healthcare, both due to misconceptions associated with it and lack of awareness.

Around 90% of the diabetic cases are of type 2 diabetes form. In type 2 diabetes, pancreas stops secreting insulin, a hormone that regulates glucose in the blood or body stops using insulin effectively. It generally affects adults. The type 1 diabetes is characterized by lack of insulin in the body and is more often hereditary and affects children and adolescents.

The increasing number of type 2 diabetes cases has been contributed by an aging population, rising obesity rates and sedentary lifestyle, as stated by Canadian Diabetes Association.

Also, diabetes is costing high on Canada’s healthcare system. The total spending on Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in Canada this year is expected to be around $12.2 billion, which is twice that was in 2002. Over the coming ten years, this figure could climb up to $16.9 billion.

Diabetics are at a greater risk of getting affected with heart attack, stroke, blindness and non-traumatic limb amputations, whose treatment also bears high costs.

“Being sedentary and overweight increases one's likelihood of having Type 2 diabetes. But it's clearly not the only reason because lots of overweight people -- most overweight people -- don't have diabetes”, said Dr. Ian Blumer, a Toronto-based diabetes specialist.

The condition can be controlled by exercising, keeping healthy weight and monitoring cholesterol.