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Did You Know: November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes is a disease that brings with it many serious health challenges and that disproportionately affects certain groups of Canadians. For example, Canadians with lower incomes have a much higher prevalence of diabetes and greater challenges accessing supports. And health inequities are also present in the distribution of complications and comorbidity: lower-income earners experience poorer health than higher income earners, especially poor circulation in the lower limbs, glaucoma, heart disease, stroke and gum problems.
For these reasons, addressing poverty, food insecurity and other key health inequities must form a core part of any Canadian approach to the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes.

To address health concerns, over the last four years the Ottawa Food Bank has further shifted its focus towards offering healthier food choices including fresh vegetables and fruit, fish, legumes and whole grains. We continue to take action to improve healthier choice options.

With the above knowledge from Diabetes Canada, and the fact that we know the food choices available to a person play a large part in the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes, we look to the foods we help to provide to the community and how they can help with proper health.

One example of a natural super food that has benefits directly related to type 2 diabetes is Oats.

Health Benefits of Oats

Oats seem so simple, but many aren’t fully aware of their benefits or sure what to do with them once they’ve got them.

Did you know that oats:
  • Help to improve blood sugar control
  • Help with heart health
  • Can improve cholesterol levels
  • Fill you up so can feel full for longer
  • Keep your digestive system healthy and moving well
  • Are an anti-inflammatory
  • Are a good source of healthy fibre, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, antioxidants, and protein

Cooking With Oats

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