Spirit meter launched to reduce diabetes in Indigenous community

The first Indigenous-branded diabetes blood glucose tester is now on shelves in Manitoba.

It's a project by the Tribal Council Investment Group of Manitoba (TCIG), which seeks out economic opportunities that benefit 49 First Nations groups.

The group launched its diabetes blood sugar tester Wednesday in Winnipeg.

Heather Berthelette, TCIG's chief operating officer, says having an Indigenous-branded tester is important. 

"Because [diabetes] is so prevalent in our First Nations communities. I think we need to bring attention to the education on how you can control and monitor this better and have it a smaller part of our communities," said Berthelette. 

Half of the profits from the sale of the device and of the test strips also being sold will be donated to education programs about diabetes, especially in Indigenous communities where the rate of diabetes is three to five times higher than in the rest of the country.

Berthelette says the meter is just part of the solution to solving the issue.

"Education and healthy eating programs are really the answer to changing things within our communities," said Berthelette.

Manitoba is the first region to have access to the new meter and the company hopes to roll it out in other provinces in a few weeks.