Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Today I would like to provide a few statistics and describe the daily regimen for diabetes patients.
Nationwide, diabetes is a serious public health issue for Aboriginal people. The prevalence rate is on the rise at about three times higher than the general population. About 2,000 NWT residents have this disease.
For diabetes patients to stay relatively healthy, they must maintain a painstaking daily regimen, eating well, getting exercise, testing blood sugar, taking all required medications and undertaking foot care. Diabetes patients are also directed not to smoke or walk barefoot, even around the house.
Nerve damage and poor circulation to the legs and feet are common problems. Certain injuries, even minor ones like blisters or cuts, can take a long time to heal. Unnoticed or untreated, injuries can quickly become infected.
For people with diabetes, preventative maintenance is exacting, time consuming and relentless. Foot care involves a long list of daily activities: washing feet in warm soapy water; drying the feet carefully, especially between the toes; checking for cuts and cracks, ingrown toenails and blisters; using a hand mirror to check the bottom of the feet or getting someone else to do this; cleaning cuts or scratches, then covering them with a dry dressing; trimming toenails; applying lotion to the heels and soles, avoiding the toes because excessive moisture can promote infection; and wearing fresh clean socks and well-fitting shoes.
This type of daily care can be especially difficult for elders, some of whom are living alone or lacking the mobility to perform their own care.
At the appropriate time I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services about how this government cares for the growing number of diabetes patients. Mahsi.