DIABETES AND CANADA ABORIGINAL PEOPLES - THE NEED FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION

The high prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in Canada's native communities corresponds with high diabetes prevale nce rates in other populations of indigenous peoples that have undergo ne changes associated with acculturation. Behavioural risk factors can be particularly amenable to public health action. There exists a need to develop, implement and test in collaboration with native people, i nterventions aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of NIDDM, by r educing the risk of its onset, and by early detection and treatment. I ntervention programmes should be conceived with sensitivity to the ove rall health, social, economic, educational and cultural environment wi thin a community. Although this review focuses specifically on diabete s in Canada, many of the points relating to the need for primary preve ntion of the disease will be appropriate in other situations.