Role of nurse practitioner in addressing aboriginal diabetes prevention

The current epidemic of Type-2 diabetes among Aboriginal Peoples in Canada has been associated with the poor socioeconomic status of Aboriginal Peoples. Most strategies in diabetes prevention treat health behaviour as an individual choice and ignore how the social determinants of health shape people's health behaviour. The purpose of this project is to explore how NPs might more effectively approach diabetes prevention in Aboriginal communities. This integrative literature review includes a critical analysis of Aboriginal community-based diabetes prevention strategies. A synthesis of their shared characteristics shows that effective community-based diabetes prevention strategies are congruent with primary health care and social justice perspectives on health, which focus on empowering communities and correcting institutionalized discrimination. Community-based strategies empower communities to take control of health promotion efforts and improve community resources and infrastructures that support healthier lifestyles. With an understanding of community-based programs, NPs can begin identifying how primary health care and social justice perspectives can strengthen existing diabetes prevention efforts in Aboriginal communities. --P. i.