Health officials are working to determine why aboriginal diabetics in Manitoba are much more likely to have a limb amputated than other people  with the disease.

The rate of diabetes among aboriginal people in the province is four to five times higher than the general population, says Tracy Scott of the Ontario-based St. Elizabeth Health Care, which is conducting the study.

But aboriginal diabetics have amputation rates as much as 23 times higher than non-aboriginal diabetics, she says.

"It could be toes, it could be feet, it could be legs, it could be up to your hip. Often what happens then is it ends up in the alternate leg, so then you end up losing your second leg as well. 

"We're trying to understand why. Although the diabetes rates are higher … the amputation rates are exponentially higher. We're trying to understand why that is."

Officials with the project believe the higher amputation rates may have to do with longer wait times for treatment or a lack of availability of early treatment in First Nations communities.

Mabel Lena Horton, who is co-ordinating the project with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, says losing a foot or leg can have devastating consequences for people living on reserves.

"By the time they go home, there's no services there. There's no wheelchair access buildings, and then they still have to come back to Winnipeg, and it disrupts the whole family," she says.

"If it's wage earners, then of course they lose all that stuff. So, yeah, a huge impact on everybody, including children and families. Everybody."

Horton expects the project to come up with ways to prevent amputations.

The 18-month project, which began in April, will develop an approach to prevent, treat and care for foot ulcers in diabetics living in First Nations communities.

Eight First Nations in Manitoba are involved in the project, being funded by Health Canada.