Diabetes is a highly researched condition, but its impact on Indigenous communities in Canada is not fully understood by non-Indigenous institutions.

Indigenous populations living on reserves are nearly three times more likely to have diabetes compared to those living off reserves.

Despite public health efforts, research shows that the prevalence of diabetes among Indigenous populations is steadily increasing. The onset of diabetes occurs at a younger age, and there are significant gender disparities, with women, especially those of reproductive age, being more affected.

Diabetes

The higher prevalence of diabetes in Indigenous communities can be attributed to a variety of factors, including genetic predispositions, environmental challenges, lifestyle factors, sociocultural barriers, and economic conditions.

These factors encompass limited access to healthcare, reduced availability of healthy food, and the impact of historical and political factors. Indigenous perspectives on health, which consider emotional and spiritual dimensions, highlight the importance of culturally appropriate support and interventions.

Community-informed initiatives and research are necessary to understand the impacts of diabetes and to develop interventions that respect and integrate holistic health perspectives.

Addressing these multifaceted factors through culturally-relevant approaches is essential for improving health outcomes in Indigenous communities (Crowshoe et al., n.d.; Cheran, et al. 2023)

Terms to know

  • Diabetes is a broad diagnosis which encompasses a range of metabolic diseases characterized by dysregulation and issues with hyperglycemia resulting from in insulin secretion deficiencies and processes throughout the body. The impacts of getting diabetes causes a range of dysfunctionality in various organs of the body such weakening functionality, decreased utility of organs and failure of vital body structures.

  • Type 1 - An autoimmune disorder where the body’s insulin-producing cells are attacked and the body loses the ability to produce the essential hormone called insulin and cannot regulate blood sugar or convert food into energy.

    Type 2 - The body produces insulin but the Body can’t use or process that insulin which results in an “insulin resistance” and Hyperglycemia.

    Gestational Diabetes - During pregnancy the mother cannot process the insulin that she produces or does not produce a sufficient enough amount of insulin to support the pregnancy.

  • Diabetes is managed through health education, lifestyle, diet, exercise, orally administered medications and injected/pumped medications. ie. Synthetic Insulin

  • There is a greater occurrence of diabetes among people living on reserve is approximately 17.2% and those that live off the reserve is estimated to be 10.3%, this disparity puts the Indigenous population of Canada at a greater risk of both developing Diabetes, being underdiagnosed, and not give the tools or education to manage and prevent diabetes. (1)