Native American Nutrition and Diabetes

Diabetes seems to be attacking everyone in the 2010s. Two families I know are seeming opposites in nationalities, one British and the other Eastern European, but a great many in each family suffers insulin-dependent diabetes within Type II. I know several people of a partial First Nations or Native American heritage as well that are taking insulin daily. At the same time, I know others of a range of diverse heritages (including Cherokee) that have controlled Type II Diabetes with diet and exercise. Nationality does not seem to be a deterrent in these particular cases.

Native Americans and First Nations have separate dedicated health divisions in their federal governments from the "rest of the population", or perhaps in addition to the mainline departments, and their Indigenous heritage has been labeled a risk factor for Type II Diabetes. In fact, Type I Diabetes is rare, more so the farther north on the North American Continent is the home of the Indigenous population examined.

Canada's health services report that in 1960, First Nations showed an almost 0%  of diabetes (it was already a problem in the USA). In 2010, it is epidemic. In many cites and towns outside the Golden Horseshoe of Ontario Province, in areas where transportation is more diffcult, First Nations are confronted with an abundance of junk food at high prices in the grocery stores. Healthy foods are even higher-priced. For example, a 2-litre of milk in Sandy Lake was over $6.50 CND in late October 2010.

National Insitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Part of the NIH, this health division publishes the related risk factors for our Indigenous Peoples of North America. The risk for Type II Diabetes among these peoples is rising.

In 2004, the NIDDK reported that 40% of all adults aged 40 to 74 in America were in prediabetes and therefore, at higher health risk. The Indigenous Peoples were 2.3 time (230%) more likely than whites who were not Hispanic to develop Type II Diabetes and its associated higher risks of stroke and heart disease. New health promotion education programs were put into place on Reservations around the US, including Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma. They have their own Diabetes Care Center and one of the recommendations is for the overweight to lose 5 to 7% of their body weight. This small start reduces the risk significantly.

The DCC is housed in a large building with examinaqtion rooms, a physical fitness room, a patient-family education conference room, a teaching kitchen, and office space, along with a certified lab and a pharmacy.

From 2004 - 2010, some positive results have been seen from the DCC, indicating that nutrition, exercise, and a small amount of weight loss can prevent prediabetes from becoming Type II Diabetes.

The percentage of Native Americans from Alaska down to the American Southwest that have Type II Diabetes increases from North to south from 6.0% up to over 29% -- However, one nation, the Pima Nation of the Gila River AZ suffers a 50% rate of Type II Diabetes. The highest rate in Canada is in Sandy Lake, Ontario - 25%. The Pima Nation AZ may have the highest rate of diabetes in the world.

• Lower the amount of fats in the diet.
• Lower the amount of sugar in the diet.
• Lower the number of calories eaten on a usual daily basis.
• Eat healthier foods overall and eliminate pop or soda.
• Exercise 30 minutes daily.
• If you are pregnant or newly delivered, breastfeed your baby to prevent diabetes in your child. Breastfed babies are LESS likely to become overweight and to have Type II Diabetes later.
• These are even more important for Native Americans in the Southwestern US States.