Grant: Project Grant

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an intergenerational disease affecting families over generations. Previously known to be a disease only in adults, it now affects children as young as 4 years old. In Manitoba, First Nations families are particularly impacted by T2D. Colonization has negatively impacted the well-being of First Nations families throughout generations and has lasting effects today. One important risk factor for children developing T2D is being exposed in the womb to diabetes in the mother. The Next Generation Birth Cohort was started to help figure out why children exposed to diabetes in the womb are at risk of developing childhood-onset T2D, and how to prevent T2D and its comorbidities and complications. Finally, the Next Generation Birth Cohort research team works with affected families and communities to determine how to support families to live well with diabetes. The Next Generation Cohort study is a birth cohort of First Nation parents and their children who are followed from birth to 18 years of age and screened early for diabetes and associated problems like high blood pressure and kidney problems. Working with community members/leaders, youth and family partners, this project will expand the current Next Generation Birth Cohort study by: 1) Developing interventions in pregnancy (diabetes education and breastfeeding support) to prevent T2D in children, 2) Screening for early problems with blood sugars and T2D and associated conditions including hypertension and renal disease in children and 3) Co-developing and implementing a post-natal youth led land-based intervention for parents and children in the Next Generation Cohort.