Quesnel, BC Native Friendship Centre, Quesnel British Columbia, BC

BC aboriginal diabetes information, awareness & prevention of diabetes for natives

- Diabetes -

Page Contents

Diabetes and change in the Aboriginal communities
Diabetes and the Aboriginal communities, what has happened?
Diabetes, what is it?
Diabetes, what happens?
What does diabetes feel like?

There are 3 kinds of diabetes
Am I at risk for Diabetes?
So what now?
How do you feel about diabetes?
Links

Diabetes and change in
the Aboriginal communities

Voices of the Elders

“DIABETES is not like getting hurt and losing a hand, diabetes is a hidden stranger and a silent killer because changes occur that can make people sick for the rest of their lives.” - Isabel

“I think we have changed our life so drastically from our ancestors. The biggest change is the diet and the exercise.” - Barbara

“There was always lots to do in the country. The old ways, by canoe and take as many supplies as we could carry. We went from the lake where we were on and put up a tent and made a fire, prepared the winter camp. Then we started hunting and trapping. We used to chop every stick of wood in the old days, much more work.” - Matthew

Diabetes and the Aboriginal communities, what has happened?

Diabetes was relatively unknown among Aboriginal peoples prior to 1940.

Today, diabetes is 3 to 5 times higher in Aboriginal communities than among the non-Aboriginal population in Canada. Diabetes has become a “silent epidemic” and is a consequence of the rapid loss of traditional ways which have been replaced by a more ‘North American’ lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, is steadily increasing among the Aboriginal people of all ages in Canada. However, First Nations elders are more likely to have diabetes, and suffer the complications of diabetes.

There seems to be an important genetic factor to diabetes that is not well understood at present. This genetic tendency for Aboriginal people to develop diabetes has probably been “unmasked” by rapid and unhealthy changes in lifestyle and environment of their communities.

Such changes include reduced physical activity and diets high in fat and sugar.

Despite a tendency to develop this disease, type 2 diabetes can be considered a preventable disease.

Research supports lifestyle changes as preventive measures, including decreasing body fat, increasing exercise and reducing fats, starches and sugar in the diet.

Diabetes, what is it?

Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly use and store sugar (glucose) needed by the body for energy.
Some common names for it are, “sugar in the blood”, “sugar sickness” or just “sugar”.

So what happens?

Your body turns most of the food we eat into sugar.
To use sugar, your body needs insulin which is produced by a gland called the pancreas (PAN-kree-us).
The sugar is carried in the blood to all parts of your body, like your bones, skin, brain and muscles to be used to produce energy.
Insulin is like a key that opens the door into the cells of your body letting the sugar in where it is turned into energy.

Diabetes, what happens?

If insulin were water

Your body does not produce enough insulin, or it is unable to use the insulin that is produced.

The sugar, from the food we eat, is not able to enter the cell for energy.

The sugar builds up in the blood,

or is taken out by the kidneys when you go to the bathroom.

Because the sugar stays in the blood and can’t get into the cells for energy, you may not feel well.

However sometimes you don’t feel any different, diabetes can be ‘silent’. You may not know you have diabetes.

What does Diabetes feel like?

You may be:

	Going to the bathroom a lot		Hungry
	Tired		Having blurred vision
	Thirsty		Moody
	Slow healing or have frequent infections		Have numbness and tingling in hands and feet
	Men may have problems with sexual activity		…or you may feel no different, but still have diabetes.

There are 3 kinds of Diabetes

Type 1 is usually diagnosed in the young child or adolescent. These people need insulin injections daily.

Type 2 is most often diagnosed later in life.
This type of diabetes is controlled by diet, exercise and medications (pills and/or insulin). This type of diabetes is a growing problem for Aboriginal communities.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy.
This type of diabetes is often only present during the pregnancy, however it is a sign that the woman may develop diabetes in later life.

Am I at risk for Diabetes?

Diabetes isn’t catching, it doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t show.

Answer the following questions to find your risk.

RISKS:

Are you age 40 and over?
Do you have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes?
Are you a member of a high risk group, being or Hispanic, Asian, South Asian African, or Aboriginal, [First Nations, Métis or Inuit] descent?
Are you a women who has delivered a baby over 9 lbs?
Have you had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)?
Have you been told that you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impared fasting glucose (IFG)?
Do you have high blood pressure?
Do you have high cholesterol or other fats in your blood?
Are you overweight (especially if you carry most of your weight around your middle)?
Have you been diagnosed with any of the following conditions?

Polycystic ovary syndrome
Acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin)
Schizophrenia

If you answered YES to one or more of the questions above, then you should get tested for diabetes every year.

SIGNS:

Are you always thirsty?
Do you need to use the bathroom a lot, even at night?
Are you always tired?
Do you have blurry vision?
Do you have numbness or tingling in you hands and feet?

So what now?

If you have any signs of diabetes, see your doctor. The sooner you start taking care of diabetes the better.

Your doctor will arrange some simple lab tests to see if you do have diabetes.

You can find help from:

	A Diabetes Nurse		A Nutritionist Registered Dietitian
	Your Doctor		Your Pharmacist
	Your Community Health Worker		Your Family

How do you feel about diabetes?

“I know I have some of the signs of diabetes, but I still haven’t been tested.

"I am afraid to be tested, I’m not sure I want to know.”

“What will I do if I am a diabetic, how will it change my life?”

“My mother had diabetes, she was sick a lot, I’m really worried.”

These are very common feelings when we think of diabetes.
Most people are scared and often deny that they may be at risk.

They are afraid of what will happen to them and how it may change their life. They worry that it may change the way they feel about themselves or how other people see them.

This can be very difficult to deal with if illness is seen as a sign of weakness or failure and can often lead to a feeling of loss of control. Many people have learned to hide feelings and to show courage in the face of problems. Sometimes this is made worse by some of our traditional values that encourage independence, a high tolerance to pain, patience and never to complain.

It is good to know that most people feel the same – that these feelings are normal. Fear, shock, anger, denial and a sense of being overwhelmed are common.

Change requires time. Sometimes it can take a few years to really accept what has happened. Change comes a little at a time. Be patient and gentle with yourself.

We need to talk about our fears and sense of loss over and over to get used to change.

Anger is normal, again we need to talk to someone and be heard. The question “why me?” is always asked. Even if there is no real answer expressing your anger and frustration will help you come to accept change.

Fear is also real. It comes from the unknown. Seek out support and information. Sometimes small steps are the best. Too much, too soon can be overwhelming. Go slow.

There may be a period of sadness and uncertainty. Slowly the old ways of thinking and doing, give way to new plans.

So….talk to your health care provider about being tested.
...Talk to someone with diabetes.
... Seek support.

It’s better to know than to just worry.

You may be able to prevent or delay getting type 2 diabetes.

Earlier treatment and care will help you stay healthy.

“Since I’ve had diabetes I’m actually healthier. Funny how it sometimes takes something like this to make you do the right things for you body.”