Risk of diabetes rising in SK, particularly among Indigenous people
- NC Raine | March 01, 2017
In Saskatchewan, the risk of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate.
A recent report by the Canadian Diabetes Association shows that one in 10 people in Saskatchewan are affected by the disease, while two in 10 are either pre-diabetic or are unaware that they have the disease. According to the report, those diagnosed with diabetes has risen 58% in Saskatchewan in the past 10 years, and is expected to continue to rise.
For Indigenous people, the threat is even greater. Indigenous populations are three to five times more likely to develop diabetes than non-Indigenous people.
“Diabetes is a huge epidemic in Saskatchewan, and there needs to be more support to people with the disease,” says Brie Hnetka, regional director of Saskatchewan with the CDA.
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Hnetka says that currently the province does not have enough health care workers, educators, and specialists to sufficiently serve the need for diabetes education and support. There are currently 176,000 people in the province who live with pre-diabetes, and another 43,000 who unknowingly live with the disease.
“We're advocating for more health-care professionals so people who are diagnosed know what the next steps are to manage their diabetes,” says Hnetka. “As it stands right now, we don't have the people in place to be able to support all those with the disease.”
The risk factors for diabetes in Indigenous populations include food insecurity, tobacco use, physical inactivity, obesity, and socioeconomic status, says Hnetka. As such, the CDA has outlined three major areas of support needed to help those with diabetes; implementing a standard provincial diabetes care pathway, expanding financial coverage for supplies, and developing a policy to ensure students are supported.
“Diabetes is not a death sentence. You can make changes and live a long, healthy life with diabetes. There are resources out there and the CDA can be one of those partners to help them learn and manage their diabetes,” says Hnetka.
In order to better understand ways to serve individuals with diabetes, Praxis Consulting initiated a study, looking at ways to reduce the incidence of diabetes by providing better care for the patient. They found that communication with support services is one of the key factors in managing the disease.
“When we talk about care for people with diabetes, there's an assumption that that individual has a family doctor and pharmacist. We realized that is not always the case,” said Valerie Sluth, Managing Principal at Praxis Consulting.
“In rural areas, it's very difficult to sometimes get a family doctor or pharmacist, so often people must travel into cities for care where they don't have a relationship with a doctor or someone who has the ability to give them ongoing support,” she says.
Sluth says that relationships with doctors, pharmacists, and certified diabetes educators are key in managing the disease. She also found that patients should be encouraged to become their own advocates, surrounding yourself with people who have successfully managed the disease.
“They key point is that people need to understand that there's more information and service available to them than just a physician,” said Sluth. “They need to weigh heavily on their pharmacists, certified diabetes educators, and linking oneself for support to others with the disease.”