Aboriginal Diabetes Integration (ADI)

About Aboriginal Diabetes Integration (ADI)

Type 2 diabetes is a health concern among Canada’s First Nations and Inuit. First Nations on reserve have a rate of diabetes three to five times higher than that of other Canadians. Rates of diabetes among the Inuit are expected to rise significantly in the future given that risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating patterns are high.

Established in 1999, the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI) had initial funding of $58 million over 5 years. It was then expanded in 2005 with a budget of $190 million over 5 years. Currently, Health Canada is investing over $50 million per year to support the ADI’s third phase, as the Government continues supporting health promotion and diabetes prevention activities and services.

Objectives

ADI features several areas of enhanced focus, including:

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