The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is committed to assisting the community with the management and prevention of diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney disease. You can take steps to prevent diabetes or manage it.

As of 2014, 29.1 million people in the United States, or 9.3 percent of the population, have diabetes. One in four people with diabetes don’t know they have the disease. An estimated 86 million Americans aged 20 years or older have prediabetes. (Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

For Native Americans, the prevalence of diabetes is much greater. Consider these sobering statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service:

• 2.2 times higher— Likelihood of American Indians and Alaska Natives to have diabetes compared with non-Hispanic whites
• 68%— Percent increase in diabetes from 1994 to 2004 in American Indian and Alaska Native youth aged 15-19 years
• 95%— Percent 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

American Indians and Alaska Natives are clearly at greater risk. Educate yourself on how to prevent type 2 diabetes if you don’t have it now, or how to effectively treat it if you’ve been diagnosed.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is located in the Prairie Band Health & Wellness Center.

Program Staff

Program Manager: Matthew Waits
Matthewwaits@pbpnation.org
Office: 785-966-8271

Health and Fitness Coach:
Office: 785-966-8272

Nurse:
Office: 785-966-8207