Complications of Diabetes among Aboriginal Canadians: Increasing our Understanding of Prevalence and Risk Factors

Diabetes, over time, can cause damage to a number of areas of the body, including the eyes, the kidneys, the feet and the heart and large blood vessels. Despite the very high prevalence of diabetes among Aboriginal Canadians, we actually know very little about the burden these complications and the risk factors for their development.

The aims of this part of the project are to determine the prevalence (amount) of complications of the eyes, feet, kidneys, heart and blood vessels among people with diabetes in Sandy Lake, and to better understand the risk factors for developing these complications.

We are using a number of approaches to test for the early signs of diabetic complications and associated risk factors. These methods are rapid, painless, relatively inexpensive, and can be easily used by community-based workers. They are therefore appropriate for use in remote communities. These methods are outlined below:

For more information, please visit http://sandylakediabetes.com

Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project

Research Program
Box 36
Sandy Lake, Ontario
P0V 1V0
Phone: (807) 774-5213

Project Coordinator

Mary Mamakeesic, RPN

Community Surveyor

Tina Noon

Community Surveyor

Edith Fiddler