Imagine being 19 years old and being surrounded by candy, chips, fried chicken and other delectables while working your part-time job. Sounds ideal? Not if you have type 2 diabetes and your employer is the only grocery/fast food store in town.

This was the reality facing Valene Mason of St. Theresa Point, northern Manitoba, a fly-in community of 2,800 people. "It was so tempting, but I knew I couldn't eat it because of my diabetes ... it was especially hard to go home to my two youngest sisters who always asked if I had brought them some candy. I didn't want them to get diabetes, too."

Valene Mason has joined a working group in her community which aims to prevent people from acquiring type 2 diabetes. The group is planning activities to raise awareness about how to eat well and exercise to manage type 2 diabetes, or avoid getting it.

"I want other young people to know that they can, and should, take care of themselves so that they can enjoy full lives," says Ms. Mason. "By getting our families, friends and entire communities involved, our chances of living well and avoiding complications are greater."

Ms. Mason thinks that this is possible, despite some of the challenges. For example she says, "A box of cereal that costs $6 in Winnipeg is $15 here."

Yet Ms. Mason's parents do their best to buy fruit, vegetables, meat and other foods that are not processed and which are low in sugar. Her father, Loren, has type 2 diabetes, as does her 16 year-old sister (pictured here), a 33 year-old aunt (she has been on dialysis for two years), and her 98 year-old great grandmother (also pictured here). In fact, 268 people, or nearly 10 percent of the population in St. Theresa Point, have type 2 diabetes - 29 of them are less than 10 years old.

Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic among First Nations people - three to five times the national average - and Métis and Inuit are acquiring the disease in increasing numbers. Health Canada has teamed up with Aboriginal organizations to develop and carry out the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative. Since its launch in 1999 as part of the Canadian Diabetes Strategy, the Initiative has been funding projects designed and managed by Inuit and Métis communities, and by First Nations people living on and off reserves. The projects pertain to care and treatment, as well as prevention of diabetes and promotion of healthy living.

On May 3, National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day, Health Canada launched an information campaign to support community-based efforts such as those which Valene Mason is helping lead. The campaign promotes exercising and eating nutritious foods and relies on a variety of media including radio, and distribution of posters to Aboriginal communities.

News Release - May 3, 2002 New awareness campaign to help fight diabetes among Aboriginal people

OTTAWA - The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Secretary of State (Children and Youth), today launched, on behalf of the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, a new awareness campaign to help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes in the Aboriginal population. Diabetes is a serious epidemic among First Nations people, and incidence of diabetes is increasing among other Aboriginal groups. It is estimated that diabetes is three to five times more prevalent among First Nations people than in the general population. Incidences of diabetes are also increasing among Métis and Inuit.

"The Government of Canada is working with Aboriginal organizations and communities to prevent the spread of type 2 diabetes," said Ms. Blondin-Andrew. "We want to increase awareness that regular physical activity and eating nutritious foods may help prevent people acquiring type 2 diabetes and help those with it enjoy good health."

Ms. Blondin-Andrew helped launch the awareness campaign, which also coincides with National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day, at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health. The Wabano Centre is developing diabetes awareness tools for Métis, First Nations and Inuit living in Ottawa. Among the Centre's projects is a calendar that helps promote health and well-being for those people affected by diabetes. The Centre has also developed educational products that promote nutrition and healthy food choices.

"Projects such as this one represent the best way forward," added Ms. Blondin-Andrew. "They are customized by Aboriginal peoples for their communities ? people who are best placed to guide efforts to confront the diabetes epidemic."

The Wabano Centre is also carrying out one of more than 300 diabetes prevention projects funded by the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI) across Canada. The ADI was developed and is carried out by Health Canada and Aboriginal organizations. Launched in 1999, the ADI is part of the Canadian Diabetes Strategy and has been funding projects designed and managed by Inuit and Métis communities, and by First Nations people living on and off reserves. The projects involve care and treatment, as well as prevention of diabetes and promotion of healthy living.

The information campaign launched today supports these efforts. It promotes active living and the eating of nutritious foods. The campaign includes a series of posters, fact sheets, radio broadcasts and a website, as well as sharing the findings of the Health Canada benchmark study on Aboriginal people's awareness of diabetes.

The benchmark study, commissioned by Health Canada and released today by the Secretary of State, indicates that the majority of First Nations and Métis people know that diabetes is a serious problem, and awareness among Inuit is increasing. The majority of Aboriginal people surveyed, however, say that their communities require further information on the disease. People need to know what measures may prevent acquiring type 2 diabetes. If they already have the disease, they need to know how to manage it better to avoid developing complications, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and amputations.

This is why the national campaign is being launched to provide information on good nutrition and the benefits of regular physical activity. Health Canada's partners for the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative are the Assembly of First Nations, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, the Inuit Tapiriiksat Kanatami, the Métis National Council, the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association, and the Native Women's Association of Canada.