Grant: Operating Grant - Secondary Analysis of Databases

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has rapidly increased during past 20 years in Canada. Diabetes is associated with ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney failure, blindness and amputation. Over 70% of diabetic patients die from cardiovascular complications. First Nations (FN) people are at greater risk for type 2 DM (T2DM) compared to general population in Canada. Over 90% of diabetic patients are T2DM. The prevalence of T2DM in FN people was 2-5-times higher than that in the general population. The increase of T2DM has been particularly rapid in FN children in Manitoba. Diabetes has become a major health and economic burden for the country, particularly in FN people. Genetic susceptibility, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, obesity and socioeconomic disadvantage have been considered as contributing factors for increased T2DM in FN population. The mechanism for rapidly increased prevalence of T2DM in FN children remains incompletely understood. The applicants hypothesize that diabetes in pregnancy may increase future T2DM in FN women and children. Breastfeeding may reversely correlate with the prevalence of T2DM in FN mothers. We propose to examine the impact of diabetes in pregnancy and breastfeeding on subsequent T2DM in FN women and children in Manitoba through secondary analysis of existing databases. The results will help to direct the prevention of T2DM and obesity in FN women and children.