Local Impact - Alabama


The Poarch Creek Indian Community
Community Diabetes Support Group

The Poarch Creek Indian Community Diabetes Support Group (CDSG) has touched the lives of many Tribal members with diabetes and their families. Furthermore, the community response has been amazing: attendance grew from four (4) people to an average of 35 people. The CDSG meets quarterly and interest has continued to increase. CDSG members who are unable to attend often contact our office for information disseminated during the meeting. This is inspiring to the staff members because we know that the attendees sincerely want the educational materials. CDSG members share experiences and support each other in their efforts to make life changes due to the diagnosis of diabetes. Success is measured by the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. With this in mind, notifying Tribal members and the surrounding community by distributing letters and flyers, and advertising in the Tribal newsletter has helped. Our Diabetes Case Manager writes the Diabetes Beat, which informs our CDSG members of upcoming news and events. CDSG members spread the word about guest speakers, which instills interest about the various topics such as living with cancer as a diabetic, reading food labels, and the dangers of choosing sugar-free foods without reading nutritional labels. We offer light refreshments to sustain the attendees and make available recipes to add flavor or spice to their daily meals. We can tell by the responsiveness shown that there is a renewed awareness of the issues that were discussed during the meeting. When we see this we are conscious of our success.

We are fortunate to have a close-knit community and to see our CDSG members on many social occasions. The topics and issues presented at our support group meetings are discussed frequently at other functions or events. Positive word of mouth is often the best promotional tool for recruiting new members. With this in mind, we have created a survey to inquire if there are any ideas for improving the meetings or topics of which the participants would like to have information or discussion. Additionally, new CDSG members are very encouraging to the staff and a true sign of success.



Stories & Progams

Diabetes Program Participants
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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

NEW!
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

NEW!
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