Native Americans with Diabetes

Diabetes and Native Americans

         Diabetes is a disease that is caused by issues with hormonal insulin. Ordinarily, an organ behind the stomach, known as the pancreas, is supposed to release insulin into your body to help use and store the fat and sugar from food you've eaten. This disease could happen if your pancreas produces a very small amount to no insulin. The disease could also happen if the body does not respond correctly to the insulin. 

            In the United States,  the main cause of end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, is diabetes. ESRD is when kidney failure is treated by transplantation or dialysis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "The prevalence of diabetes among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the United States in 2012 (15.9%) was higher than that among non-Hispanic blacks (blacks) (13.2%), Hispanics (12.8%) or non-Hispanic whites (whites) (7.6%) during 2010–2012." To summarize this quote, what they are saying is that diabetes is more common in American Indians/Alaska Natives than in any other race. A chart was created by The Office of Minority Health to further show this information along genders of the American Indians/Alaska Natives race and compared these numbers to those of whites. 

	American Indian/Alaska Native	White	American Indian/Alaska Native/ White Ratio
Men and Women	17.5	6.6	2.7
Men	18.2	7.2	2.5
Women	16.2	6.2	2.6

This same source tells us that, "American Indians/Alaska Natives are more than twice as likely to be told by a physician that they have diabetes as their non-Hispanic white counterparts. They also are almost twice as likely to die from diabetes as non-Hispanic whites."
             This phenomenon with diabetes taking over really started in 2006 when it was found that the rates of diabetes for were so much higher than any other race. the reason for their rates being much higher was stated by the American Diabetes Association. They said "Results of the study showed the U.S. Pimas had significantly higher rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes; lower intake of dietary fiber and higher dietary fat intake; and less energy expenditure for work or leisure activities." What this means is that because of the foods that they have access to, they are getting sick. 
            Although these are very high number the numbers are dropping. For example the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us that "diabetes-related kidney failure among Native American adults (American Indians/Alaskan Natives) decreased 54 percent between 1996 and 2013." The number for adults with diabetes improved but this source also tells us that "Blood sugar control improved by 10% between 1996 and 2014." Not only do these numbers look good for the American Indians/Alaska Natives, it also means that we as a population are becoming healthier and stronger. 

graphs of adults with diabetes and how the numbers for kidney failure are dropping

signs/symptoms of diabetes

RESEARCH NOTES:
Native Americans with Diabetes

• Federal data show diabetes-related kidney failure among Native American adults (American Indians/Alaskan Natives) decreased 54 percent between 1996 and 2013.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S. Two out of three Native Americans with kidney failure have diabetes. But the rate of diabetes-related kidney failure in Native Americans has declined the fastest of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S.
• Diabetes-related kidney failure is delayed or prevented by controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, using kidney-protective medicines, and regular kidney testing.
• Use of medicine to protect kidneys increased greatly, from 42% to 74% in 5 years.
• Blood sugar control improved by 10% between 1996 and 2014.

morbidity and mortality weekly report

• In the United States, diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which is kidney failure treated with dialysis or transplantation (1). The prevalence of diabetes among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the United States in 2012 (15.9%) was higher than that among non-Hispanic blacks (blacks) (13.2%), Hispanics (12.8%) or non-Hispanic whites (whites) (7.6%) during 2010–2012 (2).
• Diabetes accounts for 44% of new cases of ESRD (diabetes-associated ESRD [ESRD-D]) in the overall U.S. population and for 69% among AI/AN (1).

diabetes -the office of minority health

• American Indians/Alaska Natives are more than twice as likely to be told by a physician that they have diabetes as their non-Hispanic white counterparts. They also are almost twice as likely to die from diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. 

• 	American Indian/Alaska Native	White	American Indian/Alaska Native/ White Ratio
  Men and Women	17.5	6.6	2.7
  Men	18.2	7.2	2.5
  Women	16.2	6.2	2.6

WebMD

• Diabetes is a number of diseases that involve problems with the hormone insulin. Normally, the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach) releases insulin to help your body store and use the sugar and fat from the food you eat. Diabetes can occur when the pancreas produces very little or no insulin, or when the body does not respond appropriately to insulin. As yet, there is no cure.

American diabetes association

• Results of the study showed the U.S. Pimas had significantly higher rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes; lower intake of dietary fiber and higher dietary fat intake; and less energy expenditure for work or leisure activities.