Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Canada's first nations: status of an epidemic in progress

Abstract

This review provides a status report on the epidemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus that is affecting many of Canada's First Nations. We focus on the published literature, especially reports published in the past 2 decades, and incorporate data from the Aboriginal Peoples Survey and the First Nations and Inuit Regional Health Survey. We look at the extent and magnitude of the problem, the causes and risk factors, primary prevention and screening, clinical care and education, and cultural concepts and traditional knowledge. The epidemic of type 2 diabetes is still on the upswing, with a trend toward earlier age at onset. Genetic-environmental interactions are the likely cause. Scattered intervention projects have been implemented and evaluated, and some show promise. The current health and social repercussions of the disease are considerable, and the long-term outlook remains guarded. A national Aboriginal diabetes strategy is urgently needed.

Fig. 1: Prevalence of self-reported diabetes mellitus among all Canadians (1994²⁵) and First Nations people (1991¹⁴ and 1997¹⁵).

Fig. 2: Self-rated health, concomitant conditions and disability of respondents with and without diabetes in the First Nations and Inuit Regional Health Survey.¹⁵