Native American/Alaska Native | General

Diabetes

Diabetes, one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, has reached near epidemic levels among Native American adults. Diet, obesity and heredity are contributing factors in contracting the disease. The Centers for Disease Control has found diabetes in Native Americans at a rate more than double that of other adults, while the Indian Health Services has found that American Indian and Alaska Native children have obesity rates of 40%, four times the rate for the general population. However, through education about the causes of diabetes, the disease can be prevented or managed.

Native American/Alaska Native Resources

• American Indian Diabetes Facts
  From the American Indian Health Council, this is a one page overview with lots of interesting facts about diabetes in the native American population.



• American Indian Media Kit
  Links to media resources from the National Diabetes Education Program that are specific to American Indians.



• Association of American Indian Physicians – AAIP National Diabetes Education Program
  This program is funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Check out the database. There are educational materials to download or order and lots of links to other good resources that are on the Web.



• Diabetes Among Native Americans
  A simple one-page fact sheet from the American Diabetes Association with some basic statistics and information.



• Diabetes in Native Americans and Alaska Natives
  Another fact sheet from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
  This one has lots of information and statistics and references at the end.



• healthfinder®: Native Americans and Alaska Natives – Diabetes
  A list of authoritative links – some of which are specific to Native Americans and some that are just general diabetes resources.



• Indian Health Service National Diabetes Program
  This site describes the many programs that IHS has ongoing in American Indian and Alaska Native communities to prevent and control diabetes. It has resources for health professionals, those with diabetes and others needing health information about diabetes.



• Native American Diabetes Project
  The "Strong in Body and Spirit" diabetes education curriculum was designed for Rio Grande Pueblo people, but the material can be reproduced and used for other tribes.

General Resources

• American Diabetes Association

This site has it all: quality information about diabetes, how to live a healthier life with diabetes, community resources and even an online bookstore to buy cookbooks and other information.


• Health Topic: Diabetes and Diabetes Public Health Resource  
  Both of the above sites are programs at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first is one for health care consumers and the second is information for public health practitioners as well as the public.



• MedlinePlus® – Diabetes  
  Links to reviewed, authoritative resources that cover all aspects of diabetes. It includes the latest news about diabetes, clinical trials and other aspects of the disease. No commercial resources are linked from here.



• National Diabetes Education Program
  A partnership of more than 200 public and private organizations and the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information includes Medicare's coverage for diabetes, and resource kits for doing awareness campaigns and programs in your community.



• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  The institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that funds and does research on diabetes. Current clinical research and funding opportunities can be found here as well as reports.