The recent federal budget extension includes funding for the
reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. This is
significant for the Cherokee Nation and all of Indian Country. The budget for
SDPI has been renewed at the current funding level of $150 million until the
end of FY 2019.
Sadly, one in four Cherokees over age 50, and one in three
over age 60, has diabetes. But through the federal investment in SDPI, Cherokee
Nation has received the resources needed to address our disproportionate burden
of diabetes. SDPI is a lifesaving program and continues to play a significant
role in improving health care quality and access for Cherokee families.
Established in 1997, SDPI currently supports more than 300
diabetes programs in 35 states that have led to significant advances in
diabetes education, prevention and treatment. Last year, more than 10,000
diabetes patients in the Cherokee Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Service Area
benefited from SDPI.
SDPI funds have been utilized to support nearly 30 schools
and Cherokee community organizations in increasing physical activity levels and
healthy nutrition for schoolchildren and community members. It’s critical
we begin the education process with our youngest citizens to ensure they grow
up eating healthy and getting plenty of physical activity.
Cherokee Nation’s program, one of our most successful public
health programs, targets Type 2 diabetes through collaborations with coalitions
that include the state, municipalities and communities to implement programs
such as Farm-to-School efforts to reduce diabetes risk factors. We have served
527 participants with prediabetes education and activities, which resulted in a
loss of 4,478 pounds and an average weight loss of 8.5 pounds per Cherokee
Nation participant.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
published data that shows some diabetes rates are improving for tribal
citizens. Native people have experienced a 54 percent decline in rates of
end-stage renal disease due to diabetes, which represents the steepest
decline of any ethnic group. These kinds of improvements have resulted in
significantly more patients with controlled blood sugar, blood pressure and
cholesterol. These health indicators are associated with the reduction of
diabetic complications, including heart attack, strokes, blindness, amputations
and kidney failure.
Simply
put, SDPI is saving lives in Cherokee Nation, transforming communities and
saving our federal health care system dollars. We are pleased congressional
leaders did the right thing and continued its funding.
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