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Prevalence of Type II Diabetes in Indigenous Communities - Coggle Diagram
Prevalence of Type II Diabetes in Indigenous Communities
What is the health-related issue?
Definition:
"Type 2 diabetes is an impairment in the way the body regulates and uses sugar (glucose) as fuel. This long-term (chronic) condition results in too much sugar circulating in the bloodstream" (Mayo Clinic, 2021).
Symptoms:
increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, unintended weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, frequent infections, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, and areas of darkened skin (Mayo Clinic, 2021).
Risk Factors:
weight, unhealthy eating, fat distribution, inactivity, family history, smoking, race and ethnicity, blood lipid levels, age, pregnancy-related risks, and polycystic ovary syndrome (Mayo Clinic, 2021).
Prevention:
eating healthy foods, being active, losing weight, and avoiding inactivity for long periods (Mayo Clinic 2021).
Treatment:
healthy eating, regular exercise, weight loss, diabetes medication or insulin therapy if indicated, and blood sugar monitoring (Mayo Clinic, 2021).
What are the social determinants of health that impact this issue?
Education
Social Support Networks
Culture
Employment and Working Conditions
Physical Environments
Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills
Healthy Child Development
Health Services
Income and Social Status
Social Environments
Biology and Genetics
Gender
How does this health issue disproportionately affect Indigenous populations, and why?
Canada's constitution recognizes three distinct groups of Indigenous people: First-Nations, Metis, and Inuit; they comprise 3.8% of Canada's population. Before 1940, the prevalence of type II diabetes in these communities was extremely low, whereas now, it has reached epidemic levels (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
First-Nations Off Reserve who self-reported having diabetes: 10.3% (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
Inuit who self-reported having diabetes: 5.0% (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
First-Nations On Reserve who self-reported having diabetes: 17.2% (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
Non-Indigenous Population who self-reported having diabetes: 5.0% (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
Metis who self-reported having diabetes: 7.3% (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
Risk factors for type II diabetes that disproportionately affect Indigenous populations:
Prevalence of self-reported overweight and obesity:
Non-Indigenous Population: 51.9%. First-Nations on reserve: 74.4%. First-Nations off reserve: 62.5%. Inuit: 58.3%. Metis: 60.8% (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
Prevalence of self-reported daily tobacco smoking:
Non-Indigenous Population: 16%. First-Nations on reserve: 43.2%. First-Nations off reserve: 34.8%. Inuit: 44.4%. Metis: 34.6%. (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
Prevalence of self-reported gestational diabetes:
Non-Indigenous Population: 0.5%. First-Nations: 4.8%. Inuit: 4.0%. Metis: 2.2% (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).
Direct cost of diabetes:
In Manitoba, the healthcare costs for registered First Nations individuals with diabetes were 69% higher than those of non-Indigenous populations with diabetes and 34% higher than those of First-Nations descent without the disease.
How has colonization and the history of Indigenous people in Canada impacted this health issue?
When examining how colonization has impacted Indigenous populations, one must consider the intergenerational traumas that Indigenous peoples have faced. The impact of colonial injuries over the last 200 years can be looked at through the larger healthcare framework of post-traumatic stress disorders. PTSD results from externally imposed trauma (Mitchell, 2019). "Responses to pervasive colonial trauma have manifested in the form of chronic diseases, poverty, and high rates of youth suicide, among other health disparities and social inequalities" (Mitchell, 2019).
"Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes" (Hoerster et al., 2019).
"PTSD symptoms may increase the risk for CVD and diabetes through the negative impact of depression on health behaviours and BMI" (Hoerster et al., 2019).