The prevalence of diabetes in the Cree of western James Bay

Chronic Dis Can. 2000;21(3):128-33.

Abstract

Diabetes prevalence and general demographic data for individuals with diabetes were evaluated in the Cree of Moose Factory, Ontario. Individuals with diabetes were identified through a retrospective review of the diabetes registry as well as of outpatient and inpatient records. The crude prevalence of diabetes was 62 (95% confidence interval: 54 72) per 1,000. The direct age-standardized prevalence of diabetes was 103 per 1,000 for the entire population (95% confidence interval: 89 118 per 1,000, standardized to the 1991 Canadian population). The estimated rate of diabetes in the Canadian population is approximately 5%. The average age of individuals with diabetes in the community was 53 years; the average duration of diabetes was 8.2 years. Most of the population with diabetes were female (64 %) and were using anti-hypertensive medications (64%). This study presents diabetes prevalence data for the population of Moose Factory, Ontario, that indicate a higher prevalence than in both the Canadian population and other Cree populations in the region.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ontario / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Distribution