First Nations people carry a disproportionate burden of diabetes in Canada, driven primarily by a rapid increase in Type 2 diabetes, a form of diabetes considered largely preventable. The elevated rates of diabetes are due to the complex interaction of multiple determinants of health, many of which are rooted in colonial processes and structures that have contributed to health inequities, socio-economic disparities and lifestyle risk factors in the development of Type 2 diabetes. This paper provides an overview of diabetes among First Nations and looks at the barriers and facilitators of diabetes prevention interventions within this population.
