HAY RIVER - For almost a year, Debbie Sutton has been focused on diabetes.

Sutton is a diabetes nurse educator with the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority.

Debbie Sutton, a diabetes nurse educator in Hay River, holds a display used to teach people about the disease. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"It's very rewarding to help others improve their quality of life," she said of her role.

"Education is the key to everything," she added.

Sutton said diabetes has recently been identified as the number one concern for the health authority, which is working on a master plan to deal with the disease.

Much of her time is involved in diabetes prevention education for patients diagnosed as pre-diabetic.

Sutton said she shows people how to make lifestyle changes to prevent pre-diabetes from becoming diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes - the most common kind of the disease at 90 per cent of patients - can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes.

With Type 2 diabetes, a patient's pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body does not use the insulin that is produced.

Type 1 diabetes, which used to be called juvenile diabetes, cannot be prevented. With Type 1, the pancreas doesn't produce insulin.

In Hay River and on the Hay River Reserve, 225 people have Type 2 diabetes, while 15 have Type 1, said Sutton.

About 180 people have pre-diabetes.

Usually, about 40 per cent of pre-diabetes patients go on to develop the disease.

The likelihood of developing diabetes is influenced by diet, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and an aging population.

Aboriginal people are also three to five times more likely to develop the disease, due to diet and recent lifestyle.

Diabetes can lead to a number of complications, including eye disease, kidney damage, higher risk of heart attack and stroke, circulation problems, and amputations, said Sutton.

Among other things, Sutton trains people how to use insulin, adjusts doses, arranges for medical care for patients, and organizes workshops on diabetes prevention.

She also helps patients deal with gestational diabetes, a form of the disease which some women develop during pregnancy and which does not usually persist after delivery.

Sutton, a 35-year-old Newfoundland native who has worked as a nurse in Hay River for a decade, has filled the role of diabetes nurse educator for almost a year.

"It's very busy," she said of her job, which also involves promoting diabetes prevention and awareness in schools.

Sutton, is preparing to write an exam to become a certified diabetes educator.

The diabetes program, also includes a dietitian and a foot care nurse.

Patients also play a large role, she said. "They're part of the team, too.