Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

ADA (September 21, 2000) - The American Diabetes Association strongly supports increasing funding for the Indian Health Service by $229 million for Fiscal Year 2001. In addition, we applaud President Clinton for his initiative to renew a five-year $150 million grant for treatment and care of diabetes in the Native American community and call upon Congress to approve this funding this year.

Today, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions among Native Americans.

One tribe in Arizona has the highest rate of diabetes in the world. About 50% of the adults between the ages of 30 and 64 have diabetes.

Overall, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Native Americans in the United States is 12.2% for those over 19 years of age.

An alarming recent development is the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, once called "adult-onset diabetes, with much greater frequency among children, especially minority children including Native American youth. As noted in a recent Newsweek cover story entitled Diabetes: An American Epidemic the rise in type 2 diabetes in youth is especially troubling because of the potential onset of the serious complications of diabetes at a much earlier age than before.

Indeed, complications from diabetes are major causes of death and health problems for many Native American populations.

Of major concern are increasing rates of kidney failure, amputations and blindness.

*Among people with diabetes, the rate of diabetes end stage renal disease is six times higher among Native Americans.

*Each year 54,000 people lose their foot or leg to diabetes. Amputation rates among Native Americans are 3-4 times higher than the general population.

*Diabetic retinopathy, a general term that usually means the weakening or even leakage of blood by the vessels of the retina, hits the Native American community hard. For example, diabetic retinopathy occurs in 24.4% of Oklahoma Indians.

In October 1999, the American Diabetes Association officially launched its newest, community-based program to address the epidemic rates of diabetes in the Native American community. With culturally appropriate messages and materials, Native Americans are encouraged to make healthy lifestyle choices to prevent or delay diabetes and its complications. This information-based program is entitled Awakening the Spirit: Pathways to Diabetes Prevention and Control.

Each component of the program, including its name and logo, was decided on by a group of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian volunteers from different regions of the country. This dynamic team of volunteers has worked for more than two years to make Awakening the Spirit a reality.

Awakening the Spirit: Pathways to Diabetes Prevention and Control Program is a multi-faceted program. Awakening the Spirit will look to tribal leaders, national organizations, community members, and even Native children from across the country to promote community wellness, the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. This will be accomplished through a series of community-based programs and advocacy activities.

For more information about diabetes and the efforts of the American Diabetes Association in Native American communities, call 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383) or visit us on the web, URL: http://www.diabetes.org.