By Sarah Stone

Aboriginal youth facing higher risk of diabetes

May 14, 2013 | 5:15 PM

With 85,000 people living with diabetes in Saskatchewan, there is an alarming trend among the Aboriginal population.

With 17.2 per cent of First Nations individuals living on reserve diagnosed with the disease, 10.3 per cent among First Nations living off-reserve and 7.3 per cent among the Métis population, it is an issue that needs addressing.

The 10th Annual Aboriginal Gathering on Diabetes taking place in Prince Albert at the Exhibition Centre on Wednesday is planning to do just that.

“The whole purpose is just to empower the Aboriginal communities; helping them know that even with cultural values, different cultural foods many things can be done to manage diabetes and prevent the onset of diabetes,” said Maily Huynh, co-ordinator of public programs and services for northern Saskatchewan.

Currently there is an upward trend of Type 2 Diabetes appearing in Aboriginal youth and Huynh said that will be the focus of the event.

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“Many of our speakers are speaking about youth empowerment and how youth can help improve the future of Aboriginal communities in terms of health. We do have at least 50 students of various ages throughout the province also attending the event,” Huynh said.

“We’re a little scared at the numbers of youth that are being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, especially in our province. About one in four Aboriginal Peoples are at higher risk and more likely to have diabetes than the general population.”

At the event participants will be able to speak with health care exhibitors and attend two of the three workshops.

Workshops

-pharmacists talks on diabetes and medications
-speaker on meal planning and working with traditional meals
-using physical activity for youth under that are less expensive

“We hoping if we can produce more information about how to manage, how to prevent [diabetes] than we can reduce that incidence,” she said, adding direct contact with the public is the most effective way of education.

Type 2 Diabetes is largely caused by food and results in either a pancreas that isn’t producing enough insulin to remove sugars out of the body or that insulin in no longer function properly to remove the sugars.

“The result is you have higher blood sugar levels, which will affect how fast your blood is moving and distributing the nutrients you need,” she explained, which could affect the function of many body parts such as a person’s eyes.

Right now there are about 240 people from 15 different communities registered to attend the event throughout the province, but walk-ins can also go for a fee.

Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with lunch provided along with morning and afternoons snacks. Huynh said there will also be a hoop dance at the end of the day.

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84