Type 2 diabetes epidemic in First Nations people of Canada

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic condition that results in the body's inability to either produce or respond to insulin. Abnormal insulin production and sensitivity lead to improper blood glucose levels and energy storage required for homeostatic organ maintenance. Over 151 million people worldwide, including 7% of the US and 5% of Canadian populations have been diagnosed with diabetes, and the prevalence varies greatly by race and ethnicity. However, since the end of World War II, the people with the greatest risk include First Nations people, including Canada's aboriginal, Inuit and Native Indian populations with up to a 5-fold greater prevalence than the general population. Prevalence can vary from 8% to 48% among the sexes and tribes. Understanding the prevalence and causes of this epidemic is immediately needed as diabetes precedes various other endocrine and cardiovascular diseases. Here we review the current understanding of diabetes risk in Canada's First Nations people in the hope to bring greater awareness among healthcare professionals and implementation of measures to prevent spread of this disease.