Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
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        This week's article on diabetes will be short and sweet because my laptop computer was accidentally dropped and refuses to turn itself on.

        I had an interesting phone call from Gaye Kingman, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe. Her dad is Gus Kingman, a member of the tribe who is 102 years old and still living in Rapid City.

        Gaye said she believes that the Lakota nutritional way of life is a healthy lifestyle because her dad, Gus, is a living testimonial of the traditional way of eating. I will be interviewing Gus Kingman in the near future, mainly about his way of life and am hoping to publish his interview in Lakota Nation Journal.

        Cold weather is coming upon us rather quickly and there is a anticipation of higher cost of propane, natural gas and fuel oil for heating purposes, it's scary. As it is, the Indian per capita income level is below the national. Plus with 80% unemployment, our children, the sick and the elderly will be more prone to illnesses, because of no propane, and fuel oil or electricity disconnects.

        Information on the conservation of energy should be disseminated to every household across the reservations. Here are just a few examples of wasteful practices: taking a long shower not only wastes water, but propane or electricity, so tell your family members to take quick showers to save energy. Also, when you are not watching TV or not using lights, turn them off; use lower wattage light bulbs to save energy.

        Setting your thermostat depends on the status of your health and your family's health, sleeping in a cool room is better than waking up with dried-up nostrils, uncomfortable.

        Several weeks ago, Clementine Day from Bridger called me and we talked about the good ol' days. If a natural disaster happened today, today's generation are not prepared to survive like us baby boomers are and our elders were.

        Many years ago, our ancestors, because of survival instincts they had started winter preparation before the first frost. Buffalo papa and other foods were dried and stored, health herbs were gathered and wood was gathered for cooking and heating.

        Their daily activities included exercise, a high protein and low carbohydrate diet, and drinking plenty of water. No wonder there was no diabetes or other chronic illnesses heard of with our ancestors.

        November 15-16 is the date set for the Symposium on diabetes and everyone is invited. We want to put our minds together and look at an holistic approach on diabetes from the Native American perspective.

        Let's discuss the Lakota way of high protein and limited carbohydrates versus the white man's high carbohydrate and low protein way. Individuals will tell their own success stories.

Look for advertisement in the Lakota Nation Journal.