Backgrounder: Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI)

News Release: Government of Canada Announces Continued Support of National Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative

July 2010

Diabetes is a key public health concern for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people are three to five times more likely to experience type 2 diabetes than non-Aboriginal Canadians.

Established in 1999, the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI) had initial funding of $58 million over five years. It was then expanded in 2005 with a budget of $190 million over five years. Budget 2010 included a commitment of $110 million over two years for the ADI.

The ADI's main objective is to reduce type 2 diabetes by supporting health promotion and disease prevention activities and services, delivered by trained community diabetes workers and health service providers. Renewed funding will enable First Nations and Inuit communities to continue to build on past successes in more than 600 communities throughout Canada.

The ADI delivers a range of primary prevention, screening and treatment programs in partnership with Tribal Councils, First Nations organizations, Inuit community groups and Provincial and Territorial governments.

Through these activities, the ADI supports prevention, health promotion, screening and care management initiatives that are community-based and culturally appropriate.

The renewed ADI will feature several areas of enhanced focus, including:

• Initiatives for children, youth, parents and families;
• Diabetes in pre-pregnancy and pregnancy;
• Community-led food security plans to improve access to healthy foods, including traditional foods; and,
• Enhanced training for home and community care nurses on clinical practice guidelines and chronic disease management strategies.

Using local knowledge, First Nations and Inuit communities are encouraged to develop innovative, culturally relevant approaches aimed at increasing community wellness and ultimately reducing the burden of type 2 diabetes. Community activities funded through the ADI vary from one community to another, and may include walking clubs, weight-loss groups, diabetes workshops, fitness classes, community kitchens, community gardens and healthy school food policies. The ADI also supports traditional activities such as traditional food harvesting and preparation, canoeing, drumming, dancing and traditional games.

The ADI supports a network of over 300 trained community diabetes prevention workers via active training programs and the sharing of best practice models and approaches.