Tribal Health

American Indians Taking Charge of Their Health by

Managing  Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Preventing Stroke

Why Should We Care?

 

BECAUSE:

 

 

DIABETES IS AN EPIDEMIC AMONG AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKAN NATIVES

 

3.3 Million—

The number of American Indians and Alaskan Natives in 2007 (according to the U.S. Census)

 

562 -

The number of federally recognized American Indian and Alaskan Native Tribes

 

16.3% -

Of American Indian and Alaska Native adults who have diagnosed diabetes (compared with 8.7% of non-Hispanic whites)

 

95% - 

Of American Indians and Alaska Natives with diabetes who have type 2 diabetes (as opposed to type 1 diabetes)

 

30% -

Estimated percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives who have pre-diabetes

 

2.2 -

Times higher Likelihood of American Indians and Alaska Natives to have diabetes compared with non-Hispanic whites

 

58% -

Increase in diabetes prevalence among American Indians and Alaska Natives aged 20–29 from 1990 to 1998, as compared with 9.1% in the U.S. general population

 

3 - 

Times higher Death rate due to diabetes for American Indians and Alaska Natives compared with the general U.S. population (2004)

 

3.5 - 

Times higher Rate of diabetes-related kidney failure in American Indians and Alaska Natives compared with the general U.S. population (2004)

 

18.5% -

Reduction in new cases of kidney failure in American Indians and Alaska Natives from 1999 to 2004

 

3-4 - 

Times higher The risk for developing cardiovascular disease in American Indians and Alaska Natives with diabetes compared with American Indians and Alaska Natives without diabetes

 

66% -

Percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives with cardiovascular disease that had diabetes first

 

GENERAL DIABETES FACTS:

 

15 years -

The number of years by which diabetes can shorten a person’s life span

 

$13,243 -

Average annual medical care costs for a person with diabetes

 

$2,560 -

Average annual medical care cost for a person without diabetes

 

(Figures from the IHS.gov web site updated June 2008)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Should We Worry?

 

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.

Total health care and related costs for the treatment of diabetes tuns about $174 billion annually.

 

Many individuals are are not even aware that they have diabetes or are at risk for  diabetes until they develop a life threating complication like heart desease, stroke, or kidney desease. Yet most if not all of the complications of diabetes can be prevented through diabetes self-management and training. Prevention practices and management techniques are the key

 

 

 

 

 

HERO Indian Initiative