About 40 percent of adults ages 40 to 74 –
or 41 million people – have pre-diabetes, a condition that
raises a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, and stroke. American Indians and Alaska Natives
are 2.3 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic
whites of similar age.
To respond to this rapidly growing
problem, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
(HHS) National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) launched a
public awareness campaign today called “We Have the Power
to Prevent Diabetes” at the new Chickasaw Nation Health
System’s Diabetes Care Center, an annex of the Carl Albert
Indian Health Facility in Ada, Oklahoma. The campaign
promotes the message that American Indians and Alaska
Natives can fight the high incidence of type 2 diabetes in
their communities if they take steps to lose a modest
amount of weight by moving more, eating less, and making
healthy food choices.
“We Have the Power to Prevent Diabetes” is part of NDEP’s
“Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 Diabetes”
campaign, which targets groups at highest risk for
diabetes. The campaign uses “real life” testimonials from
American Indians and Alaska Natives who have made lifestyle
changes to prevent diabetes and encourages others to take
up the charge.
Among testimonials featured in the campaign is one from
Glenda Thomas Fifer, a participant in the Diabetes
Prevention Program clinical trial from the Gila River
Indian Community. She says: “I know everyone can do it,
once they make up their mind. A lot of people out there
know it runs in their family and they think, ‘Okay, I’m
going to get it.’ No, it’s not so. You can prevent it. If I
can do it, you can do it.” These motivational messages and
healthy lifestyle advice are used in the campaign’s tip
sheets, radio and print public service announcements, and
posters. Hundreds of public and private partners will help
to distribute the materials throughout the American Indian
and Alaska Native communities.
HHS’ NDEP is a federally funded program, co-sponsored by
the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, and is a leading source for
information about diabetes care and prevention. NDEP has
more than 200 partner organizations that form a network to
reach the health care community and those affected by
diabetes at the federal, state, and local levels.
The Chickasaw Nation Health System is part of the NDEP’s
partnership network. Its new Diabetes Care Center provides
the Chickasaw Nation with a comprehensive program for
helping to control and prevent type 2 diabetes. The 8,500-
square-foot center includes a patient exam space, a fitness
room, a patient education conference room, a teaching
kitchen, and administrative space. A fully certified
laboratory and pharmacy are also housed there.