Grant: Operating Grant - Aboriginal Health Intervention - full application

The prevalence of diabetes is higher among Canadian First Nations populations compared to the general population. This disparity began to be noted in the 1980s. Since that time the problem has worsened; diabetes prevalence has increased, and the condition develops at a younger age and is associated with a higher prevalence of complications compared to the general population. Risk factors for diabetes include family history, unhealthy diet, inactivity, and obesity. Recent research is pointing to the role of chronic stress in the development of diabetes. Large diabetes prevention interventions have demonstrated that among those at highest risk the progression to diabetes can be slowed or reduced with lifestyle modifications, specifically diet and exercise. Given that chronic stress is emerging as an independent risk factor for diabetes, stress reduction may help in diabetes prevention. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to expand our knowledge on the role of stress in the development of diabetes, and to identify new points for intervention aimed at stress reduction. This research will be the first in Canada to explore the relationship between stress and diabetes using community-derived measures of stress and biological markers of chronic stress. The findings will inform a novel and innovative approach to diabetes prevention and in the future will be transferrable to other Canadian First Nations communities.