AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde speaks with Health Minister Jane Philpott in November. Photo courtesy Twitter
Friday is National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations is asking people to educate themselves.
AFN Chief Perry Bellegarde is encouraging all Indigenous peoples to take action in detecting and preventing diabetes.
Chief Bellegarde says in order to do so Indigenous people must educate themselves about how to prevent and manage diabetes.
He says there is a role for everyone in fostering healthier First Nations.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 20 per cent of the Aboriginal population lives with Diabetes.
Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, amputations and infectious diease