Diabetes and Native Americans

There are two stories that are perpetuated in the Native American culture: it is a culture rich in storytelling, and the likelihood of developing and dying from diabetes is high.
For Rhonda LeValdo and Teresa Trumbly Lamsam, they wanted to change that last story.
"It seemed inevitable," said Lamsam, a visiting professor of journalism at the University of Kansas who grew up on a Osage reservation at Pawhuska, OK. "You're going to get older. You're going to get diabetes because you're Indian. When I saw complications, I used to think, 'I wonder how long before they lose their feet?' Amputations were so common."
LeValdo had seen diabetes ravage her family and was ready to make a change in the world: "I have had diabetes run through my family. I've lost an aunt and three uncles now. My uncle recently passed away at the end of October. He was in his 50's."
Lamsam and LeValdo teamed together to create a website, WellboundStorytellers.com that invites Native American journalists and bloggers to contribute their stories about health well-being successes and struggles. It was an instant hit, with Native Americans from Kansas to Hawaii offering to tell their stories. "We have a Hawaiian guy who is working on the website. I have an educator and filmmaker who say they want to be a part of it. They are all on health journeys and they want to share and receive support," said Lamsam.
Running has been a tradition in the Native American culture. In a recent blog post, LeValdo told a story of her ancestors, who "had a garden, we grew crops, made our own foods, and I ran." As natural based foods have been replaced by processed and microwavable foods, LeValdo saw "my relatives, now older, becoming diabetic, having heart disease, and some passing on." For her it was a light bulb moment: "I have two small children and I didn't want to leave them early."
But LeValdo and Lamsam know they have a rough road ahead of them: one small website isn't going to change the future of 3.5 million Native Americans. Native Americans and Pacific Islanders rank next to the bottom on almost every health measure, just ahead of African Americans. 15 percent of Native Americans aged 18 and older suffer from diabetes, compared to 11.4 percent of African Americans, 11 percent of Hispanics, 8 percent of Asians, and 7.1 percent of non-Hispanic whites.
Darryl Tonemah, of Kiowa, Comanche, and Tuscarora descent who works on an Indian diabetes program as a board member of the American Diabetes Association says that Native American's health problems go beyond just their culture: "It is not as simple as blaming the victim. You look at a group that has been traumatized by colonization, put on reservations, given high-carbohydrate, high-fat, high-calorie foods and then left with limited opportunities to change that."
Lamsam had been doing research on the federal initiative Special Diabetes Programs for Indians and mainstream media's coverage of that program. The program, currently funded at $150 million has helped decrease blood sugar and levels of bad cholesterol among the Native American population, but has had no effect on the percentage of diabetes.
The website follows in the traditional of the Native American culture by using stories to help inspire and motivate.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
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