Helen Pahau: Ngati and Healthy

The Ngati and Healthy Prevent Diabetes research programme is a collaboration between Ngati Porou Hauora, and the Edger National Centre for Diabetes Research, University of Otago. The programme aims to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus by promoting a lifestyle characterised by healthy eating and regular exercise, to the largely Ngati Porou communities on the East Coast of the North Island.

The programme also aims to increase aims to increase awareness of diabetes and pre diabetes conditions – both those high at risk of developing diabetes and in the community at large. In particular the programme aims to reduce the incidence of insulin resistance before this state progresses to impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia, by which time the insulin producing capacity of the person may already be impaired.

The programme won the supreme award at the 2006 Whanau Ora awards for Māori health and disability services. The judges felt the programme "epitomised the concept of sharing of knowledge and skills to benefit Māori and the wider community."

Helen Pahau, Ngati Porou Hauora, will present about the programme, the findings of the pre intervention survey, and the strategies used at both a community and individual level to effect change.