DIABETES PREVALENCE RATES AMONG FIRST NATIONS ADULTS ON SASKATCHEWAN RESERVES IN 1990 - COMPARISON BY TRIBAL GROUPING, GEOGRAPHY AND WITH NON-FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE

Objective: To determine age-specific, sex-specific and total prevalenc e rates of diabetes mellitus among Saskatchewan First Nations adults a nd to compare these rates by tribal grouping, geography and with non-F irst Nations people. Design: A point prevalence study of all Saskatche wan reserves in 1990. Results: Age-adjusted rates of diabetes mellitus were higher (risk ratio 1.8) among First Nations adults (9.7%) than a mong non-First Nations adults (6.1%). These racial differences were gr eater between women (12.1 vs 6.6%) than men (7.2 vs 5.6%). First Natio ns diabetes rates were highest among individuals with Saulteaux and Si oux ancestry, and among those living on southern reserves. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Saskatchewan First Nations people has increased from 0% to almost 10% within the adult population since 1934 and has more than doubled from 1980 to 1990. This epidemic manifests itself to a greater extent among women and certain tribal g roups, possibly due to differences in exposure to non-traditional life styles.