The Impact of Colonization on Aboriginal Health and Diabetes

This essay delves into the profound effects of colonization on the health of Aboriginal people, with a specific focus on the prevalence of diabetes. It examines how historical experiences have created health and equity gaps, impacting the interactions between Aboriginal patients and healthcare providers. The paper analyzes the peer-to-peer approach, as exemplified by the 'How's Your Sugar' website, highlighting its effectiveness in health education and promotion within Aboriginal communities. The essay discusses the narrative model and its cultural appropriateness, advocating for holistic care approaches and providing examples of organizations focused on Aboriginal health. The essay references relevant sources, including research on diabetes rates among Aboriginal populations and the impact of colonization on access to resources and timely treatment.

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Running: DIABETES AND ABORIGINALS
Diabetes and The Aboriginals
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ABORIGINALS AND DIABETES
Introduction
This paper will focus on analyzing the effects played by colonization on their health with
a focus on diabetes. The article will delve into analyzing the peer to peer approach used in the
know your sugar website and the need to employ such a culturally relevant aspect in the
communication of the health promotion perspectives. The paper will also present a holistic care
approach and give an example of an organization that focuses on Aboriginal care.
How Colonization affected the health of the aboriginal people
Colonization has had profound effects on the health of the Aboriginal people. In essence,
the Aboriginal people believed in traditional treatment modalities to deal with common
conditions. A health and equity gap was created as a result of colonization. Colonization has
also created a wide equity gap for the indigenous individuals in various Aboriginal communities,
drastically affecting their healthcare negatively. The many historical perspectives and
experiences influence the interactions that exist between the Aboriginal patients and the
healthcare providers in terms of diabetes care that they had passed through during the early year
of colonization. In essence, expansion weakened the trust between the Aboriginal people and the
healthcare system at the point in time. The negating experiences led to aspects such as practices
of non-disclosure when interacting with the patients in different environments. The relationships
between healthcare workers and the indigenous communities are central to the care that they
receive (Spurr, Bally, Bullin, & Trinder, 2017).
It has been noted Globally that diabetes, mainly types two diabetes, has its hallmark
effects within the indigenous communities. In Canada for instance, the rates that are documented

ABORIGINALS AND DIABETES
are three to five times higher than those of the cities that are not indigenous, further stressing the
effects that colonization has had on the communities within the populous. Based on factors such
as access to resources, the indigenous communities tend to get exposed to medical conditions
such as diabetes much sooner and are less likely to find appropriate and timely treatment (Spurr
et al., 2017).
The peer approach and how it can be aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
The peer approach can be employed among the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in
instances in which they can share ideas and identify their health problems in their distinct groups.
Having unique groups, discussing the issues that they have can be very useful in solving their
inherent problems.
How the peer to peer approach aids in the transference of health education
The peer to peer approach is highly effective in dealing with the many challenges that
people have. This can be seen through the aspects of Alcohol intoxication that are seen in the life
of Dolly. Dolly states that alcoholism did not go well with her case of diabetes. Diabetes had
drastically affected her way of life and her health in turn.
Additionally, Dolly states that she kept away from greasy food due to diabetes. These
examples highlight the profound effects that diabetes has on the health of individuals and the
foods that should be avoided, and also drugs such as alcohol. In turn, this shows the extent unto
which the peer to peer approach is effective in health education.

ABORIGINALS AND DIABETES
Reference
Spurr, S., Bally, J., Bullin, C., & Trinder, K. (2017). Type 2 diabetes in Canadian aboriginal
adolescents: risk factors and prevalence. Journal of pediatric nursing, 36, 111-117.