Local Impact - Washington


Christina Hicks

Community Health Manager
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation

“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 in Washington

According to 2008 CDC data, approximately 345,000 people in Washington – 6.9% of the state’s population – had diagnosed diabetes, and many of them suffer from diabetes related complications or conditions. In addition to the human toll diabetes places on people in Washington, the financial burden diabetes places on the state’s health system is staggering – in 2007, the direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Washington was approximately $3.97 billion.

Stories & Progams

Diabetes Program Participants
Tell us more about your journey with Diabetes by filling out this form

Diabetes Care Providers
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Alabama

The Poarch Creek Indian Community
Community Diabetes Support Group

Alaska

Charlotte McConnell
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Lifestyle Balance and Diabetes Prevention Program

Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
Annual Diabetes Walk

Southcentral Foundation Special Diabetes Program for Indians

Arizona

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Celia Milner
CHR Department, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians

Marlene Valentine -
Navajo Special Diabetes Project

Rudy Clark
Hualapai Healthy Heart Project

California

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Karen
Case Manager
United American Indian Involvement

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Jackie Patton
Chapa-De Indian Clinic

Amy Lemmer
Sonoma County Indian Health Project

Alberta Manuel
Sonoma County Indian Health

Connecticut

Mohegan Tribe
Uncasville, CT

Hawaii

Anela Lautalo

Idaho

Christie Lussoro
Nimiipuu Health Diabetes Program

Iowa

Becky Youngbear-Alvarado
Meskwaki Diabetes Prevention Program

Kansas

Stephanie Crawford
Haskell Health Center Diabetes Prevention Program

Louisiana

Jena Band of Choctaw Indians

Maine

Aroostook Band of MicMac

Michigan

Tracy L. Sagataw
Hannahville Indian Community Clinic Diabetes Program

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Rebecca Price
Pokagon Health Services Special Diabetes Program for Indians

Minnesota

Arne Vainio, MD
Fond du Lac Human Services Diabetes Prevention Program

Mississippi

Pastor Thomas Ben
Fond du Lac Human Services Diabetes Prevention Program

Samuel Amos
Fond du Lac Human Services Diabetes Prevention Program

Montana

Faye Filesteel
Fort Belknap Healthy Heart Project

Nebraska

Clarissa Hoffman
Ho-Chunk Hope Diabetes Prevention

New Mexico

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Judy Reuter
Santa Ana Pueblo
Elsie R. Pino
Ramah Navajo Heart Saver Project
Erlene Sandoval
Navajo Special Diabetes Project

New York

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
Let’s Get Healthy Program

North Carolina

Ulela Harris
Cherokee Diabetes Program

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Cherokee, NC

North Dakota

Cheryl Donoven
On Eagles Wings Diabetes Prevention Program

Oklahoma

Terry Williams
Black Hawk Health Center

Allen Dale
Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC) Get SET & Fight Diabetes program

Read more about OKCIC (PDF)


Glendine Blanchard
Absentee Shawnee Tribe Healthy Heart Program

Oregon

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Dylan Jones
NARA Northwest

Taylor David
Klamath Diabetes Prevention Program Cow Creek Consortium

Shirley Heath
Warm Springs Oregon Diabetes Prevention Program

Jennifer Smith
Warm Springs Oregon Diabetes Prevention Program

Larry Smith
Warm Springs Oregon Diabetes Prevention Program

Rhode Island

Mary Lou Stanton
Narangansett Indian Health Clinic-Diabetes Program

South Carolina

Catawba Indian Nation
Special Diabetes Program for Indians

South Dakota

Pete Fills the Pipe
Pine Ridge IHS Diabetes Prevention Program

Utah

Reggie Martinez
Uintah & Ouray IHS Clinic - Healthy Heart Project

Washington

NEW!
Christina Hicks
SDPI-Community Direct Diabetes Grant
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation

Buddy and Les Hoptowit (Brothers)
Yakama Indian Health Center Healthy Heart Project

Wisconsin

Marion Reynolds
St. Croix Healthy Heart Program

Wanda McFaggen
St. Croix Healthy Heart Program

Wendell Waukau
Menominee Diabetes Program

Wyoming

Regina Whiteplume
Eastern Shoshone Diabetes Program