Fighting the phantom: For First Nations, diabetes takes a devastating, oft-preventable toll

// custom header art window.tgam.meta.photo_desktop = "https://www.theglobeandmail.com/resizer/v2/WJ6BJYDFTJGXXKIQLQJ3TDJ6MM.jpg?auth=8ef55bb9db7881592cb20a8ec50bd4e12f176d6a52e443fb6d2ed0b1babab473&width=1300&quality=80"; window.tgam.meta.photo_mobile = "https://www.theglobeandmail.com/resizer/v2/WJ6BJYDFTJGXXKIQLQJ3TDJ6MM.jpg?auth=8ef55bb9db7881592cb20a8ec50bd4e12f176d6a52e443fb6d2ed0b1babab473&width=1300&quality=80"; window.tgam.meta.video = ""; window.tgam.meta.caption = "James Gott, 75, lost his lower legs to complications from diabetes, which, if left untreated, can make limbs vulnerable to infection by damaging nerves and blood vessels."; window.tgam.meta.credit = ""; // custom header layout parameters window.tgam.meta.headline_overlay = false; window.tgam.meta.headline_overlay_vertical_position = "top"; // top, centre, bottom window.tgam.meta.headline_overlay_horizontal_position = "centre"; // left, centre, right window.tgam.meta.headline_overlay_gradient = false; window.tgam.meta.two_column = true; window.tgam.meta.swap_column = false; window.tgam.meta.full_width = false; window.tgam.meta.dark_background = true; window.tgam.meta.dark_background_colour = "#000000"; window.tgam.meta.centre_headline = false; window.tgam.meta.large_headline = false; window.tgam.meta.sans_headline = false; window.tgam.meta.label_text_colour = ""; window.tgam.meta.label_box_colour = ""; window.tgam.meta.label_text_colour_overlay = "" ; window.tgam.meta.label_box_colour_overlay = ""; window.tgam.meta.audio_bar = true; // custom header display overrides (optional): window.tgam.meta.display_head = "Fighting the phantom"; window.tgam.meta.display_deck = "New research gives the first national overview of who is losing limbs to diabetic illnesses, and the picture is dire in rural Canada. For First Nations, problems compounded by scarce nutrition and health care take a devastating, often preventable toll"; window.tgam.meta.label = "Indigenous health"; window.tgam.meta.byline = "Patrick White"; window.tgam.meta.byline2 = "Photography by Fred Lum"; window.tgam.meta.creditline = "The Globe and Mail"; The phantom visits at night. It claws up the nerves of his left stump. Sends a shock of electricity through his hamstring.