Grant: Operating Grant

Adult onset (type 2) diabetes is a major public health challenge for First Nations communities in Canada. This condition often leads to long term complications, reduced quality of life and early death. For almost 20 years, Sandy Lake First Nation and health researchers at the Universities of Toronto and Western Ontario have worked closely together to address the challenges of diabetes in this community. Our successes to date have included the identification of risk and protective factors for new onset diabetes as well as diabetes complications, and the emergence of an independent, community-run diabetes prevention program. The objective of the current grant is to improve our knowledge of diabetes in the community and to understand the importance of newly discovered diabetes risk factors. Specifically, we plan to study the impact of social and behavioral factors of both mother and baby (including nutrition, social support and food security) on the growth of babies and young children over time. These are factors that are potentially very important in the evolution of diabetes, yet they have received very little formal study among First Nations communities. This research will provide valuable information to enhance ongoing community intervention programs (www.sandylakediabetes.com).