Originally published February 26 2006
Canada works to cut diabetes in aboriginal community
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In Canada, the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association has undertaken a mission to halt the rapidly increasing number of diabetics in Manitoba's aboriginal community.
A conference in Winnipeg is looking for ideas to stem the growing tide of diabetes among Canada's aboriginal community.
Getting fresh, affordable food to remote communities can be difficult.
Diabetes among aboriginal people was virtually unheard of in the 1940s, but today the risk of Type 2 diabetes among aboriginal populations is estimated at three to five times higher than for non-natives, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association.
"Pandemic means that a disease is throughout the entire country," said Alex McComber, one of the conference chairs, who sits on the board of the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association.
Conference delegates say diet, lack of exercise, genetics and stress contribute to the problem, as does lack of access to fresh food in aboriginal communities, especially in the North.
"It's horrendous to eat healthy in the northern communities if you are relying on one store to provide all the food," said McComber, who has helped to teach young Mohawk students about proper diet and exercise at the Kahnawake First Nation near Montreal.
Isabelle Shannacappo, from the Rolling River First Nation, near Riding Mountain, Man., says part of the solution is also personal responsibility.
Shannacappo said governments should help provide financial support for dieticians on reserves to help people eat better.
She also said, where possible, it's crucial to help get fresh, affordable food to remote communities.
Theresa Oswald, Manitoba's minister of healthy living, says the provincial government is working on programs to grow fresh produce in the North.
It's estimated almost 20 per cent of the First Nations population in Manitoba will contract diabetes.
First ministers meeting in Kelowna, B.C., last fall listed diabetes prevention as one of their top priorities in addressing aboriginal poverty and health care.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml