Prevalence of Diabetes and Diabetes-related Complications in First Nations Communities in Northern Quebec (Eeyou Istchee), Canada

Recent epidemiologic trends of diabetes mellitus among status Aboriginal adults

“…[14][15][16] For example, status Aboriginal-togeneral population rate ratios of the prevalence of diabetes in Saskatchewan were 3.7 among women and 2.6 among men in 2005, 14 as compared with 2.7 among women and 1.9 among men in 2007 in our study. Our data also challenge previous epidemiologic reports that suggested that prevalence rates among Aboriginal people will continue to rise unabated 3,7,[14][15][16] and that rates among Aboriginal women markedly outweigh those among men. 14,22 Provincial differences cannot be explained by our study, but we speculate that they may be related to socioeconomic differences, or they may be related to combined provincial and community-based programs that increase awareness of diabetes (e.g., the provincial Alberta Diabetes Strategy), to federally funded activities (e.g., the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative) or to changes in clinical practice with increased emphasis on screening.…”

Fish consumption is inversely associated with type 2 diabetes in Manitoba First Nations communities

“…The Canadian First Nations (FNs) population is experiencing rates of T2D of epidemic proportions. The prevalence of T2D in FNs communities is 3-5 times higher than that in the general Canadian population (Young et al 2000;Dannenbaum et al 2008;Pelletier et al 2012). In addition, an earlier age of diabetes onset, a greater severity of the disease, and higher rates of complications of T2D are observed in on-reserve FNs compared with non-Indigenous populations (First Nations Information Governance Centre 2012).…”

What's in your freezer? Traditional food use and food security in two Yukon First Nations communities.

“…The prevalence of diabetes among First Nations is three to five times the national average, with all age groups displaying high rates (Dannenbaum et al, 2008;Health Canada, 2000). It is not just the high rates that are of concern; rather the combination with early onset, severity at diagnosis, high rates of complications, lack of accessible services, increasing trends and increasing prevalence of risk factors have contributed to this epidemic (Health Canada, 2000).…”

“…The mid-1990s obesity prevalence for female Yukon First Nations (31%) and Inuit (38%) aged 41-60 greatly exceeded the Canadian female prevalence of 12% , and prevalence of childhood obesity among First Nations also exceeds the Canadian average (Nakano et al, 2005a;Willows et al, 2007). The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among First Nations is three to five times the national average, with all age groups displaying high rates (Dannenbaum et al, 2008;Health Canada, 2000;Martens et al, 2007). Diabetes prevalence is higher in more southerly and urban communities and has been suggested to be inversely related to adherence to traditional lifestyle activities and consumption of traditional foods (Green et al, 2003;Johnson et al, 2002;Martens et al, 2007).…”

“…Even when eaten in small quantities, traditional foods contribute high levels of essential nutrients to the diet, which is critical as traditional food consumption is decreasing in Aboriginal communities across Canada Kuhnlein et al, 2004;Receveur et al, 1997;Receveur et al, 1998). Low intake of traditional foods presents health risks when the replacement market foods are high in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, which increases the risk for chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes that are manifestations of the global nutrition transition (Damman et al, 2007;Dannenbaum et al, 2008;Green et al, 2003;Johnson et al, 2002;Kuhnlein et al, 2004;Popkin, 2009;Young et al, 2000).…”