Researchers try to measure diabetes risk for Inuit

The Public Health Agency of Canada is doing research on diabetes in Nunavut's Kitikmeot region.

The project is called CanRisk, and it will help develop a tool to identify Inuit who are at a high risk of developing diabetes.

Dr. Howard Morrison, with the Public Health Agency of Canada, said the project is taking place in all Kitikmeot communities

People are being offered a $50 food voucher if they take part.

"To have people complete a questionnaire that relates to their likely risk of developing or being diabetic and having an oral glucose tolerance test taken at the same time, and then relating the results of those questions to their likelihood of them being diabetic or pre-diabetic," he said.

Morrison said the study is a follow to work done in Finland where they developed a similar tool.

He said the study has been conducted throughout southern Canada, but nothing has been done in the North, so there is little information about the risk of diabetes for Inuit.

Morrison said that as eating habits change and people eat more processed foods, it's important to gather this information.

Morrison said the field work will be completed by the end of March.

Participants will be informed if they are at risk for diabetes or have the disease.