The prevalence in the Cree-Ojibwa living in North West Ontario and North East Manitoba has been reported as 46 per thousand. Participation decreases fasting blood glucose values, and decreases the need for insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents, or both. It nevertheless appears that nongenetic factors may be subject to intervention, and studies of controlling obesity are needed, especially by diet and exercise. They have discussed the future and the prevention of obesity and the promotion of physical fitness, especially in the young within their community. As a result, there has apparently been a great deal of interest in dietary changes, weight loss, and exercise advice from individuals, teachers, and health care workers.
Similar programs are under way in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and North Western Ontario.
It has been suggested that minimal standards of diabetes care for the First Nations must be identical to those standards set for non Natives. These standards of care were outlined by the European Consensus Group, the American Diabetes Association and the Indian Health Services of the United States. The standards of care for Natives do no meet these published guidelines, primarily because of the almost total lack of trained health care personnel. Our suggestion would be to encourage individuals and health care providers within the Native communities to actively seek to acquire access to more services. We feel it is the right of any person with diabetes, whether Native or non Native, to have access to an informed, knowledgeable health care provider.