Alabama
Community Diabetes Support Group
“I believe that without the SDPI program, I would probably be a diabetic... Congress has an obligation to the First Peoples of this country and I do believe that they should keep this grant to help Native Americans decrease their chances of developing diabetes…”
- Christina Hicks
My name is Christina Hicks, I am an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, which is located in Washington State. One of the programs I oversee is the SDPI-Community Direct Diabetes grant. This grant does a lot of outreach in my Tribal community on a daily basis, since Native Americans are at a higher risk of developing Diabetes.
I found out here last summer that I had Pre-Diabetes. I enrolled in the life style balance class, which was being offered through the SDPI program. I meet with the Nutritionist and over the months I have been able to lower my A1C's from 6.7 to 5.7 and I am now making healthier choices as a result of this program.
I have a strong family history of family members who have Diabetes, especially on my mom's side of the family. I have a strong family history of heart disease and high blood pressure as well as Thyroid disease. My mom is a type 1 Diabetic and has had this diagnosis for 35 plus years. I have a younger brother who just found out that he is a type 2 diabetic and is on insulin. He has also had 2 heart attacks, one when he was 30 years old and the 2nd one last Sept. at the age of 42, he just went through a double bypass surgery. I myself have struggled with my weight and have high blood pressure and thyroid problems. I believe that without the SDPI program, I would probably be a diabetic.
I am working on losing weight and getting regular exercise and eating healthier. This reservation is in the middle of a food desert. We have to drive 30-45 minutes to get good access to grocery stores, we have one 3 miles away, but the cost is higher and they have less choices. We have the same problem with fitness centers. Congress has an obligation to the First Peoples of this country and I do believe that they should keep this grant to help Native Americans decrease their chances of developing diabetes, which is on the rise nationwide, not just in Indian country. We need more funding in Indian Country, for our health care. I support funding the SDPI-Community Direct Grant.
Diabetes Program Participants
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Diabetes Care Providers
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