Diabetes Prevention for Native Children
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Teaching Native Children How to Prevent Diabetes
Children with Type 2 diabetes is on the rise especially in Native communities where childhood obesity is a real health issue.
In the past 50 years diabetes has not only become a major health issue for Natives, but they are affected more than twice as much as non-Indians. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with Indian Health, has developed a program specifically for children from pre-school to 4th grade. This program uses culturally sensitive books and materials to transfer the message , and has been very successful.
Type 2 Diabetes is deadly but it's preventable. This article gives you both resources and information about this deadly disease and what you can do to protect yourself and your children. The American Diabetes Association has an excellent Animated Video on what diabetes is, what blood levels are safe and which are dangerous. The Video has 2 printable sheets to help you manage your own diabetes and the other a list of questions to ask your doctor.
You will also be able to view the animated version of the Eagle Book Series on Diabetes for Native children, as well as order your own DVD and books for free.
Diabetes Kills
Diabetes Kills more than a quarter million people a year and affects 1 out of every 3 children. Two
out of three people will die from a heart attack or a stroke.
Diabetes in the Indian and Alaskan Native Population
Diabetes is on the rise in Native Communities
Diabetes is claiming the lives of so many and part of the reason is because of a change in lifestyle and eating habits. Kids aren't getting the exercise they used to, and instead watch TV or play video games. These sedentary activities, along with poor eating habits are major contributors to obesity which leads to Type2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes.
“What is Diabetes?”
Click on Type 2 Lou to View
and get free Printable Medical Planning Form & Questions to ask your Dr.
Do you think Diabetes is a serious health issue?
Note: Info from the ADA
The American Diabetes Association has designated March 22 as "Alert Day," the start of a four-week campaign to encourage people to take a free diabetes risk test.
Books to Teach Native Children about Diabetes
The Eagle Book Series
Lifestyle changes have contributed to Children's Diabetes
Tell us what you think
The way the world is today, many children aren't outside playing like they used to. The lack of exercise and poor eating habits of not only children but families have contributed to not only obesity, but type 2 diabetes.
Do you think lifestyle changes and obesity have anything to do with more cases of diabetes?
Obestity is not the problem, it is....
prosperity66 says:
I didn't choose to say that obesity is responsible as I know many people who aren't obese at all and do have diabetes! They aren't related, in my personal opinion and in regards of the experience I have with such a disease.
However, I'd rather consider American lifestyle responsible for diabetes. It has an impact on Natives' health but also on others - Europeans, for example, who "adopted" your lifestyle or part of your lifestyle. Not all of us, but the young generation is quite fan of your lifestyle.
There is also another factor, as stated by scientists, we all are different. Asians don't eat the same food as us for biologic reasons, Africans either. Therefore, why wouldn't Amerindians not be different, and the foods they eat nowadays hurts their system more than the foods they used to eat at the time they were on the continent.
We could say the same for many areas that were colonized, but nobody would admit it :)
CleanerLife says:
It is a life style problem, for the most part. You can see it on pretty much every season of The Biggest Loser. People who start out with diabetes and other weight related health issues are able to get those problems under control and get off their meds within a few weeks of eating right and exercising.
Obesity is the problem because......
ajgodinho says:
I believe obesity is part of the problem, but I think the main issue is lifestyles have changed and we need to get back to the basics of healthy living.
emerald125 says:
Yes, I do think our sedentary lives and the amount of processed "empty" food we all eat today is causing obesity and ultimately the increase in type 2 diabetes. I have had friends reverse their diagnoses when they make big changes to their diet and lifestyle.
Kids Need Exercise
but they don't like it, so make it fun! If kids are having fun, they won't even think of it as exercise. Buy a trampoline...Trampolines for Kids
Animated Eagle Books Videos
Native Americans and Diabetes in the News
- IHS' Improving Patient Care Program Reflects a Growing Trend in Patient Outreach
- A new personalized approach to patient outreach is encouraging American Indian and Alaska Native women to schedule and keep important yearly appointments such as mammograms and physicals. Through convenient, extended clinic hours and targeted ...
- Native Americans work to escape the clutches of a diabetes epidemic
- So it was for LeValdo, 37, a member of the Acoma Pueblo from New Mexico, a media instructor at Haskell Indian Nations University and president of the Native American Journalists Association. ?I have had diabetes run through my family,? she said.
- Kickapoo Nation, Located in One of Kansas' Least Healthy Counties, Takes on ...
- About 16.1 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives ages 20 years and older who are served by the Indian Health Service have diagnosed diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Education Program. On the national level, Kickapoo Tribal Chairman ...
- Diabetes continues to be a troubling, common disease
- Diabetes is common in the United States today. Current statistics from the American Diabetes Association show that 25.8 million children and adults have diabetes. That is 8.3 percent of the population, with 1.9 million new adult cases diagnosed in 2010 ...
Benefits of Activity for Diabetics
Activity lowers blood glucose levels, helps you lose weight, and improves blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Fun way to exercise for Young Children
give them a fun way to exercise while playing
Redmon Fun and Fitness Exercise Equipment for Kids - Air Walker
Amazon Price: $60.95 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $129.99
Diabetes Resource Link List
Find resources and FREE items
- Native Times
- Native American Times - #1 Source for Native news in the US. article on getting fit with a partner
- Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Online Catalog
- Educational Resources for Patients with Diabetes-can order in bulk
- Indian Health Services Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention
- Resources for Use by Teachers and other Educators of Children/Youth Grades K-12
- Seva Foundation: FREE Diabetes Talking Circles Tutorial Materials
- All the materials a trainer needs to lead Diabetes Talking Circles are available for downloading - free of charge. This is a very popular program that is culturally relevant.
- CDC - Diabetes: The Eagle Books Series: A FREE Guide for Educators
- Learn more about the Eagle Books Educator's Guide; which offers strategies for teaching children about preventing type 2 diabetes.
- Diabetes Public Health Resource FREE DVD and Books
- FREE Eagle Books- Order a set of Eagle Books and the animated DVD of the 4 stories in the Eagle Books series.
- American Diabestes Association
- Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy.
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I hope this has been useful and that you learned something. If you ordered the FREE Eagle books remember they take about 4-6 weeks to process, but in the meantime send the children out to play and give them healthier meals and snacks.
Diabetes is a concern for everyone. I wrote this because I am the grandmother of 7 native children and statistically that would mean at least 2 of them would develop type 2 diabetes at some point and I cannot imagine one of my grandchildren dying before us. It has been said that this is the first time in history that children may not live as long as their parents, and that is a risk I'm not willing to take by allowing them to live an unhealthy lifestyle. How about you, are you willing to take that risk?
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WordCustard
Mar 17, 2012 @ 5:36 am | delete
- You are right, we all need to be worried about diabetes and doing what we can to guard against the preventable type. I didn't know though that it affected so many Native American kids and can see why it's important you are raising awareness. Scotland has an unhealthy diet too and a drink problem and I think that's part climate (long winters, little sunlight -- Scandinavian countries also have alcohol issues) as people turn to food and drink for comfort, and part economy (again, cheap and comforting foods full of fat and sugar/salt). Crazy that half the world or more is hungry and you see people in our countries who are killing themselves with food.
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Bea_Gabrielle Feb 23, 2011 @ 7:54 am | delete
- Great info you have here. Thanks for sharing. Squidliked and lensrolled to my diabetes in kids and juvenile diabetes lenses. :-)
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ajgodinho Feb 14, 2011 @ 11:32 am | delete
- Excellent resource on diabetes prevention ~ I totally agree with you and other readers who have focused on issue of living a healthy lifestyle. Any other way is just temporary and I'm glad to see more people becoming proponents of healthy living. **Kissed by a Squid-Angel**
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prosperity66 Feb 13, 2011 @ 4:20 am | delete
- Never! I never wanted to take any risk for my child, and would never for my grand children the day I'll have some! I'm known as a "mother-hen" and often criticized because I keep a close eye on my child and the children that stay with me for a while (whenever I have some at home) but at least, I've never lost any child as my child's god mother.
Regarding food, I'm totally opposed to junk food, fast food, processed food, etc. I'm the worst cook out there but I just like quality products. It may sound strange from someone who cooks creme fraiche stuff but I don't eat such things every day.
In any way, we're all encouraged to live a lifestyle that is totally opposed to a healthy life and anyone who wouldn't do else is considered as suspicious. That's the way our society "evolves", that's what lobbies lead by money want, and I think that some of them even dare to call it "patriotism".
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TapIn2U Feb 13, 2011 @ 2:13 am | delete
- A very informative lens! Parents should be conscious of their children's health. And diabetes is a life time disease.
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emerald125
Feb 12, 2011 @ 11:24 pm | delete
- I am concerned about the amount of time our kids spend in passive activity these days. This is a great way to raise awareness.
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CleanerLife
Feb 12, 2011 @ 6:09 pm | delete
- I used to despise exercise. I led an active lifestyle and felt that regular exercise for me was unneeded. Now, I make my living sitting at a computer, and I've changed my mind about regular exercise. My diet is better, as well, since I no longer eat at fast food restaurants, and I'm choosing healthier foods to fix for myself at home.
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vikksimmons
Feb 12, 2011 @ 4:21 pm | delete
- Lots of solid information provided. Nice job. I'm of two minds on the whole rising diabetes issues because I a few years ago I read that they had lowered the threshold level for diagnosing so that alone will account for a large increase but it is definitely not a good thing to have no matter when it happens or to whom.
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by KathyMcGraw
Diabetes in children is increasing at an alarming rate, but for Native children it is even higher. This article gives you info and resources for preventing... more »
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