Diabetes in American Indians

What kind of diabetes do American Indians have?

American Indians have type 2 diabetes.  This kind of diabetes starts when our bodies do not use insulin well.  We need insulin to help our bodies use the food we eat.  At first, our bodies can handle not using insulin well by making more insulin.  However, making more insulin causes weight gain.  Weight gain causes the body to use insulin even less well.  If we continue the same eating and activity patterns for many years, we not only become overweight but we lose the capacity to produce a large amount of insulin.  At that point, we may not be able to keep our blood sugar down to normal.  Type 2 diabetes often results.

This kind of diabetes is caused by eating too much and not being active.  Living in America these days exposes all people to the same eating and activity patterns.  All over the civilized world, diabetes is getting to be a problem.  American Indians may have a greater physical capacity to stay well during long periods of starvation.  Because of this we may not have as great capacity to endure long periods of abundant food and little physical activity.  Rich foods tend to overwhelm our energy systems. 

What can we do about Diabetes?

We can prevent the onset of diabetes.  We can choose to practice different ways of eating and being active so that we don’t overwhelm our energy systems.  We can learn to be happy with these new ways.  A recent scientific study has proven that making these changes can help us prevent diabetes.

If we have family members with diabetes, we can get yearly screening at clinic.  Early intervention is the best way to prevent the complications of diabetes.  We can learn the signs of early diabetes and when they occur, get screened even more frequently.

If we have diabetes, we can be educated in self-management so that we can stay well at home and participate as an equal partner with clinic staff in obtaining and using clinical tests and medicines.