Pipestone Flyer
On October 9th, 2012 Marvin Nakonechny visited City Hall requesting Mayor Bill Elliott sign a proclamation declaring November as Diabetes Awareness Month and November 14th as World Diabetes Day.
Mr. Nakonechny advised that, “Today, there are more than 9 million Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. In Alberta it is estimated that more than 250,000 people have diabetes. With more than 20 people being newly diagnosed with the disease every hour of every day, chances are that diabetes affects you or someone you know.”
On a personal note Mr. Nakonechny explains his personal and professional link to diabetes. “From the personal side, my mother and oldest brother passed away from complications with Type 2 diabetes. In both situations their illness was not identified until secondary symptoms such as foot ulcers, blindness, heart disease appeared and the damage was irreversible. Other members of my family are currently managing this disease, so I monitor my health carefully.
From the professional side I attend numerous health conferences, trade shows and expos that promote lifestyle changes that will help manage diabetes. My relationship with diabetes educators and researchers provides focuses on nutrition to assist with healthy dietary choices. For example, our company Progressive Foods Inc. develops healthy options with Quick Cooking Barley.”
Diabetes is a chronic, often debilitating and sometimes fatal disease, in which the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. This leads to high levels of glucose in the blood, which can damage organs, blood vessels and nerves. The body needs insulin to use glucose as an energy source.
The Canadian Diabetes Association is committed to informing people about diabetes, how to live well with the disease and how to prevent or delay complications.”