PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - T. Kue Young
AU  - Jeff Reading
AU  - Brenda Elias
AU  - John D. O‚Neil
TI  - Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Canada‚s First Nations: status of an epidemic in progress
DP  - 2000 Sep 05
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 561--566
VI  - 163
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/163/5/561.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/163/5/561.full
SO  - CMAJ2000 Sep 05; 163
AB  - THIS REVIEW PROVIDES A STATUS REPORT ON THE EPIDEMIC of type 2 diabetes mellitus that is affecting many of Canada‚s First Nations. We focus on the published literature, especially reports published in the past 2 decades, and incorporate data from the Aboriginal Peoples Survey and the First Nations and Inuit Regional Health Survey. We look at the extent and magnitude of the problem, the causes and risk factors, primary prevention and screening, clinical care and education, and cultural concepts and traditional knowledge. The epidemic of type 2 diabetes is still on the upswing, with a trend toward earlier age at onset. Genetic‐environmental interactions are the likely cause. Scattered intervention projects have been implemented and evaluated, and some show promise. The current health and social repercussions of the disease are considerable, and the long-term outlook remains guarded. A national Aboriginal diabetes strategy is urgently needed.