(NC) — Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting Canadians. It occurs when the body is unable to sufficiently produce or properly use insulin, which the body needs to use sugar as an energy source. There are three different types of diabetes—type 1, type 2, and gestational, the latter of which develops during pregnancy.

Here are some tips from Your Guide to Diabetes, a Public Health Agency of Canada resource to help Canadians prevent and manage diabetes.

Individuals with type 1 diabetes should test their blood glucose (sugar) levels three or more times per day and adjust their insulin through injections or an insulin pump. They should also ensure insulin doses are balanced with food intake and their level of daily activity. People with type 1 diabetes may experience low and high blood sugar levels, and these fluctuations must be managed appropriately.

While living with type 1 diabetes requires a certain amount of daily structure, newer pumps and insulin products have provided more flexibility in the management of this condition. More information on living with type 1 diabetes can be found from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) website: http://www.jdrf.ca.

A healthcare provider can provide advice to help properly manage blood glucose levels.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has produced Your Guide to Diabetes, a comprehensive primer on everything you need to know to live with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and management

Free copies can be obtained at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-O-Canada.

Your Guide to Diabetes is available in 11 alternate languages: Chinese Traditional, Chinese Simplified, Korean, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati, Tamil, Tagalog, Farsi, and Spanish, which can be ordered through e-mail at PSD-DPS@phac-aspc.gc.ca.