Diabetes In Indian Country

Diabetes in Indian country: hearing before the Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, first session, on diabetes in Indian country, with particular focus on the Special Diabetes Program, February 8, 2007, Washington, DC.

The reported population of American Indians and Alaska Natives has grown rapidly over the past 20 years. These changes raise questions for the Indian Health Service and other agencies responsible for serving the American Indian population. How big is the population? What are its health care and insurance needs? This volume presents an up-to-date summary of what is known about the demography of American Indian and Alaska Native populationâ€"their age and geographic distributions, household structure, employment, and disability and disease patterns. This information is critical for health care planners who must determine the eligible population for Indian health services and the costs of providing them. The volume will also be of interest to researchers and policymakers concerned about the future characteristics and needs of the American Indian population.

In 1997, Congress authorized the Special Diabetes Program for Indians to address the extraordinary prevalence of diabetes among Indians. It is now in its twentieth year and up for reauthorization. This program has demonstrated significant inroads in reducing diabetes and its complications, such as limb amputations, heart disease and kidney failure. However, there is still more work to be done. Indian people have a greater chance of being diagnosed with diabetes than any other racial or ethnic group in the Country. It is the fifth leading cause of death for Native people. This disease is now afflicting the youth. Native youth are reportedly nine times higher than non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and the related complications of heart disease, kidney failure, and other diseases. Obesity is one indicator for the future risk of becoming diabetic. If it is not decreasing, then before reauthorization, the program must be examined to determine how well it is serving the Native American youth. Type 2 diabetes is both preventable and manageable, particularly through healthy living. Healthier lifestyles can help improve blood glucose levels, decrease obesity rates, lower blood pressure, and decrease bad cholesterol levels.