Canada and Diabetes: Are we really getting our money's worth?

Diabetes is a major concern in Canada. The disease caused by either family lines or routine overdoses of carbs and sugar, affects a over two million Canadians and it is expected that the number will rise over years. Clinical tests, supposed to be routine for anyone living with diabetes, are being done for less than one third of all patients. The question is: Why is this happening?

Clinical tests, if done routinely, can help patients control their diabetes ,helping in overall health and well being. However in recent studies, of the four tests (hemoglobin Ac1 test, urine protein test, feet test and eye exam) only 32 percent of patients have recieved all tests within the amount of time. Of these 32 percent, most are well off individuals with a steady income and profitable life. Most people in poverty can't afford to take care of themselves. People in poverty have the greater percent of diabetes but economical issues prevent them from taking both the time and money to mantain their health. Doctors have recommended electronic devices to help keeping track of schedules and switching to specialists but many people are still unable to recieve all four tests at their recommended times. The Canadian Diabetes Association will release a report on the severity of the issue.

I really am quite upset about this. Millions are struggling with diabetes but only 32 percent can actually afford the tests on time. This is unacceptable. Diabetes is a serious disease that needs to be mantained. Not only does it destroy the pancreas but it prevents your body from properly detoxing itself of waste. People need to learn and understand that by waiting to recieve your tests you're only putting yourself in further risks. Doctors also need to make the time to properly check their patients and recommend that each of them recieve the tests. Clinical appointments should also be very through-not just for five to ten minutes. Yes doctors have a lot of patients but its their job to provide the proper medical care and advice to the people paying them. Not enough time is not a good enough excuse. People are dying because "not enough time" forced them to ignore their health problems. We need to start doing more to health the sick in our community and stop worrying about ourselves. People need help. We need to start caring and help them.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/12/04/diabetes-tests-canada.html#socialcomments

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day
Celebrating those who have bravely died and honoring those who still keep fighting, Remembrance Day both celebrates and mourns the ending of World War. Always held on November 11, the day marks the ending of World War, which ironically ended on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. Remembrance day is respected all throughout North America and, like the name suggests, it marks the day when we annually take the time to remember the brave soldiers who died during World War I, World War II and the Korean War which were fought by many brave men and women. Its symbol, worn on every Remembrance Day, is a poppy with blood stained petals and an onyx coloured center. Recognized worldwide, it is instantly associated with both November 11 and the famous poem by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor who wrote the poem in honor of his friend and because of the way the barren field that the troops were staying on burst into a sea of red poppies after the battle. His poem has become a national anthem of Remembrance Day and even today it is still sung at every Remembrance memorial where both citizens and war veterans stand proudly and humbly as they remember the precious lives taken during the wars.

Remembrance Day, to me, is a very special and grave time where one stops to remember the reason why we got our freedom. It’s a time of honouring, crying, mourning, remembering and proudly standing tall. Where families remember relatives, friends remember friends, and a generation to rediscover why we stand here today. However while I would like to say that I’ve always known about Remembrance Day and have always celebrated it, I can’t. South Africa doesn’t celebrate Remembrance Day. In fact, we don’t even know what it is. The first time I learned of Remembrance day was when I was six and attended a school assembly to celebrate it. It was my first year in Canada and I didn’t really know much. The assembly started with a movie and half way through I turned around to my friend and said, I can still remember this, “this is sooo cool!” My friend was not impressed. He told me it wasn’t and that I shouldn’t be saying things like that. Needless to say my perspective on the world got wildly rearranged. For one, I began to understand the real meaning of Remembrance Day. It wasn’t just another history day. It was a day where we gave thanks and showed gratitude towards the soldiers that secured our freedom and for the soldiers that are still trying to secure freedom for others. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, but it took me years to finally understand Remembrance Day’s importance. Now whenever the guns are shot and we bow our heads to in silence, I proudly take part without confusion or hesitation. Whenever someone else starts laughing or talking during the memorial I glare at them to be quiet. Yes, I’m not a descendant of war but that doesn’t mean I still can’t pay respect to everyone else who is.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Celebrated on the second Monday of October, Thanksgiving is a cultural holiday held in honor of a successful harvest. In Canadian history, the origin of Thanksgiving originated from an English explorer named Martin Frobisher who first came to Canada in search of the northern passage. While he did not succeed in finding the Spice Islands he did however form a settlement in North America. 1578, in what is now known as Newfoundland, he held a ceremony to celebrate the successful long journey. This ceremony is considered to be the first Thanksgiving in Canada. Over time more settlers arrived and they took it upon themselves to keep up the tradition. Soon the festival became less of surviving the journey and more of celebrating the bountiful amount of food that was presented to them each harvest. This is how Thanksgiving started in Canada.

I generally don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Okay I don’t celebrate it at all. Its cause I don’t want to, its just that growing up I never really heard about Thanksgiving until I moved to Canada. And even then it wasn’t much of a big deal to me until I moved to B.C. South Africa doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving and Halloween is nonexistent. Valentine Day is very vague and the only holiday I can really remember is Christmas. And even then it was more of receiving presents instead of the whole “Santa is coming!” charade. I didn’t even know who Santa was and my only information on him was the very few Christmas shows that came during the winter months but even that was rarely in English. No, I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. But I do celebrate the extra day off by ceremoniously sleeping, not doing anything, pigging out on candy and junk and of course playing games all day. I sometimes read but I mostly draw. Other than that I just pretty much stay inside the whole day unless we plan to go to the movies or something. This Thanksgiving I didn’t do that but instead I spent the day celebrating my father’s birthday. We bought him some gifts and then ended up returning it all and buying him new ones. It was fun. We made ribs which caught on fire and ended up eating Nandos Chicken instead. Afterwards we watched some movies before ending in for the night. Yep just pretty much your basic weekend.

Sources used for Thanksgiving references:
1. http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/thanksgiving/canada/
2. http://www.kidzworld.com/article/2614-canadian-thanksgiving

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