Carrier Sekani Family Services

 

Travelling Diabetes Clinic

Compared to the general population, people of Aboriginal descent (even young ones) are more like to develop Type 2 Diabetes.  This is serious, because diabetes causes major health problems.  If not treated, it can lead to heart or kidney disease, nerve damage in the hands and feet, impotence, teeth and gum problems, and even blindness.  Diabetes can also be a problem for pregnant women.

 

Carrier Sekani Family Services cares for the health of our member nations.  As a result, we now work with other groups to bring a travelling diabetes clinic to First Nations communities in BC.  This is the first clinic of its kind in BC.  Carrier people can be tested for diabetes at the clinic; they can also get check-ups each time the clinic is in the community.

 

 

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

If you have some of the symptoms below, you may have diabetes.  When the travelling diabetes clinic comes to your community, make sure you are tested.  It is free, and you can learn more about this disease and how you can control your blood sugar (glucose levels).

 

  • You're very thirsty all the time
  • You need to urinate (pee) often
  • You lose or gain weight without trying
  • You feel very tired all the time
  • Your eyes seem blurry
  • You get infections often
  • Your cuts and bruises heal slowly
  • Your hands and feet have tingling, pain, burning, or no feeling at all

 

Remember, Aboriginal people are at a higher risk when it comes to developing diabetes.  You should be tested regularly.

 

 

How The Travelling Diabetes Clinic Works

First, the health care team will find out what your health is life right now.  They may ask you how long you have had diabetes, what pills you are taking, and what your lifestyle is like.  Then the nurse will do several tests:

  • Finger-prick test
  • Blood pressure test
  • Foot exam
  • Urine (pee) test

 

The nurse will tell you right away whether your test results are good or not.  You will learn whether your diabetes is improving or whether you need to work on changing your lifestyle some more.

 

Next, the vision technician will do an eye exam to see if your diabetes is affecting your sight.  The technician will send your eye exam results to a specialist in Vancouver.  Once the specialist sees your results, he will tell your doctor whether your eyes are healthy or not.  Your other test results will go to your family doctor and another specialist who is an expert on diabetes.

 

Finally, the nurse will talk with you about how you can keep your diabetes under control.  It is important to remember that Type 2 Diabetes is an illness you can prevent by healthy living! Even if you develop diabetes, you can stil keep it under control by:

 

  • eating healthy food
  • eating more fibre
  • eating less fat
  • eating less sugar
  • eating less salt

Living a health lifestyle is the best thing you can do to try to prevent diabetes.  If you find harmony and balance when managing your diabetes now, you can avoid serious health problems later in life.  Enjoy a healthy, traditional diet and get as much exercise as you can.  Enjoy the little things in life.  Try to avoid stress, negative emotions, and processed foods like soda pop, junk food, and fast food.