An Interview with Dr. Darryl Tonemah

TC:  Was the study itself just focusing on American Indians, the 3,000 nationwide?

DT:  No, it was all ethnicities. The results were the same across the border. It didn't matter – one ethnic group wasn't different from another. The results for Native people were the same as other groups. The bottom line was that, for all people, people who are IGT, to increase their activity and decrease their weight – there is a direct correlation between weight and blood sugars. My role in that study was as a behavioral person. Behavior change is tough. There's a lot that goes along with it. "Just do it" isn't just do it for some people. Some communities see diabetes or obesity as part of being Indian. For someone to lose weight or change their eating habits – people may tease them for trying to be different. So trying to overcome these personal barriers or cultural barriers for change is a tough thing because it can be scary. Some people may be made fun of they think, "I might be made fun of if I try to eat healthy and if I try to lose weight, or if I go to work skinny." My role was to help case managers and participants recognize these barriers and work together. The "Look Ahead" study is a new one started maybe a year and half, two years ago. It's for people who have diabetes, it's a similar protocol – lifestyle change and weight loss and exercise to see how it affects diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes, and how it affects heart function.

TC:  And you have the same role?

DT:  Yes, I'm the behavior person on that too.

TC:  Do you travel a lot with this position?

DT:  Not so much with this position. I travel a lot around the Phoenix area, the Gila River, Salt River, Gila crossing area in the Phoenix area. But the out of state traveling I do is to talk about wellness in Indian communities. Not by design, not by anything I said I was going to do when I grow up, which I haven't grown up yet, but when I do grow up, I hadn't planned on doing this. When I was in college, I played football. The junior high and high schools wanted me to come to talk to their kids, to their Indian students, and so I would go and talk with them. Since then, people have asked me to come to their communities more, and I consider it an honor that people want to hear what I have to say. So for them to ask me to come and talk to their youth or their community about wellness or empowerment – I take that responsibility really seriously, and I really think about what I say and how I say it. I want it to be of value because I get these students for such a short amount of time. I may never get to see them again.