by Alison Blackduck
Northern News Services

NNSL (June 06/97) - The Canadian Diabetes Association begins its 1997 fundraising campaign Monday.

Volunteers in Yellowknife and across the territories will be going door-to-door in search of money to help combat diabetes, the No. 1 disease-related cause of death in Canada. Besides support research programs, however, there is a lot people can do to prevent it.

"The most unfortunate thing about the most common type (Type 1) of diabetes is that it is preventable," explained Dr. John Morse, medical director of Stanton Regional Hospital's diabetic education program. "Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are actually two different diseases."

Morse's son, Alex, lives with Type 1 diabetes, which means Alex's pancreas produce little or no insulin, which regulates blood sugar.

In Type 2 diabetes, the body does produce insulin but it doesn't have the same effect. The sugar in the blood can't get into the cells, blood-sugar levels rise and the body's cells starve.

Ninety per cent of all diabetes cases are Type 2. Morse explained that in most indigenous populations around the world that have adopted or been forced to adopt a western-style diet, the incidence of Type 2 diabetes is high and on the rise.

"People put themselves at risk by eating a diet high in fat and not getting enough exercise," he said.

One thing Morse is beginning to see in some of the First Nations populations he works with is "young kids, 10 and 11, developing Type 2 diabetes."

Morse blames this on a switch from a healthy traditional diet and active lifestyle out on the land to a lifestyle full of "advertising, TV, processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle."

Said Morse, "There's a lack of knowledge and kids are being misled by TV and peer pressure ... KFC is not good for you."

He's quick to point out that the last statement comes more from a "sociological perspective, not a medical one ... it's all part of the bigger picture though."

The most important measure anyone can take is keeping their body weight down. Second, said Morse, is making healthier eating choices and third, getting up and get moving.

So where does bannock fit in?

"Bannock is usually white flour, lard, which is animal fat, and baking powder ... it's not a healthy food choice."