Unique Symposium to Address Epidemic of Diabetes Among
Native Americans
A unique symposium addressing the epidemic of diabetes among Native
Americans will be held Nov. 28 to 30 with presentations by a number of
tribal members and healers as well as health-care experts in diabetes prevention
from the public health and academic settings.
The first two days of the War on Diabetes Symposium will take place
at the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center, 3321 S. 72nd St., with discussion
focusing on identification of the problem and a review of possible solutions.
The final day of the symposium will allow participants to travel to Winnebago,
Neb., to view the Whirling Thunder Wellness Program Center for Diabetes
Prevention, tour the Winnebago community and share in both a traditional
feast and a powwow.
The symposium is being sponsored by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
in collaboration with UNMCs School of Allied Health Professions
(SAHP), the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, the InterTribal
Bison Cooperative and the SEVA Foundation.
A study of diabetes and its complications in Northern Plains Indians
found the Winnebago and Omaha tribes had a diabetes prevalence rate five
to eight times the U.S. rate. More than 80 percent of adults over age 45
in the rural Winnebago tribe have Type 2 diabetes and 40 percent of the
tribal children are overweight, with some already diagnosed with high levels
of insulin in their bloodstream and hypertension.
This is a unique gathering of health-care providers, led by the Winnebago
community, said Mary Haven, director and associate dean of UNMC’s SAHP.
This symposium gives equal measure to academic, social and health professionals,
and the Winnebago traditional nutrition and healing practices. The trip
to Winnebago is eagerly anticipated because diabetes prevention and health-care
professionals will see first-hand the success possible when Native American
culture and traditions are among the primary tools used for prevention
and management of the disease.”
The idea for the symposium, the first of its kind for the Heartland
region, came from Mia Merrick, an Omaha tribal member, while doing graduate
studies at Harvard University. She was researching diabetes prevention
in the Native American population and used the Winnebago Tribe diabetes
program as a model.
UNMC/Nebraska Health System presenters and their topics include: Jennifer
Larsen, M.D., professor, department of internal medicine, Type 2 Diabetes:
Screening Guidelines, Diagnosis and Consequences; Peggy Bottjen, project
manager, SAHP, Incorporating Diabetes and Wellness Curriculum into Academic
Settings;” and Brenda Bishop, NHS diabetes nutrition educator, Traditional
Nutrition Models.” Haven will serve as facilitator for the Nov. 29 workshops
and banquet.
Tribal traditions will be highlighted by Louis LaRose, project director,
Winnebago Bison Project, in a speech titled, I Never Met a Buffalo with
Diabetes: Stories from a Bison Caretaker, and Bishop, who will offer cooking
tips for traditional tribal foods, including bison meat.
Other presentations of interest include: The War on Diabetes in Indian
Country: Battles on Many Fronts, by Dorothy Gohdes, M.D., retired director,
Indian Health Service Diabetes Program; and Status of Diabetes in
American Indians and Alaska Natives: Weapons of Today, by Kelly Acton,
M.D., director of IHSDP.
“Diabetes is a major health problem in the Native American culture and
the Center for Continuing Education is pleased to be a part of this health-care
partnership which values diversity,” said Larry Willis, Eh.D., director
of UNMC’s Center for Continuing Education.
Continuing education credits are available to symposium participants.
Anyone interested in more information should call the Center for Continuing
Education at (402) 559-4152. Registration fee for the three-day program
is $200, which includes breakfasts, lunches, banquet and pow-wow feast
as well as workshop materials. Participants may register for a single days
program for $100. On-site registration is available, but may not include
meals, as only a set number of meals are available above the pre-registered
count.