With the help of a $2.2 million federal grant, the Southern Oregon Tribal Diabetes Prevention Consortium has started a program to stem the rise of type 2 diabetes.

The Coquille Tribe, the Klamath Tribes and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians started work on the program in October 2004. The tribes received Special Diabetes Grants authorized by Congress.

The program is serving 144 people, members of the tribes and other federally recognized Indians in southern Oregon. Participants will receive diabetes screening, take a 16-week course in nutrition and exercise and have access to education, mentoring, coaching and other support systems. At the end of the five-year project, the results with be sent to Congress.

According to the Indian Health Services, upwards of 15.1 percent of adult American Indians and Alaska Natives have type 2 diabetes, the most common form. Native Americans are 2.2 times more likely to develop diabetes than whites.

Get the Story:
Tribe begins diabetes prevention program (The Coos Bay World 2/6)
Genetics, lifestyles increase risk for Native Americans (The Green Bay Press-Gazette 2/4)

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