Congress established the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) in 1997 and Uncontrolled diabetes reduces the quality of life for the individual diabetics …
SPECIAL DIABETES PROGRAM FOR INDIANS REAUTHORIZATION
Fact Sheet
Legislative Goal for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians
Congress established the Special Diabetes Program for Indians SDPI in
1997 and the program was reauthorized in 2002, for five years at 150
million per year The SDPI is a grant program administered by the Indian
Health Service IHS and grants are awarded to IHS service units, Tribes
and Tribal organizations, and urban Indian clinics to provide diabetes
prevention and treatment programs The SDPI is set to expire in 2008
With input and the support from Indian Country, the legislative goal for
the National Indian Health Board, the American Diabetes Association, and
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is to reauthorize and extend the
SDPI and type 1 diabetes research programs by increasing the level of
funding for each of the programs to 200 million per year for 5 years
Why is Diabetes Dangerous and Costly?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use
insulin Types 1 and 2 diabetes covers the vast majority of diabetes
cases
When left inadequately-treated, diabetes can cause numerous
complications such as cardiovascular disease, renal failure, retinal
damage, nerve damage and micro vascular damage These complications can
lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and problems for
mother and child during pregnancy
Uncontrolled diabetes reduces the quality of life for the individual
diabetics and their families, and can lead to death Uncontrolled diabetes
can also drain the health care system of financial resources as the
complications themselves require more expensive care The American Diabetes
Association estimates that the per capita annual costs of health care for
people with diabetes rose from 10,071 in 1997 to 13,243 in 2002, an
increase of more than 30 In contrast, health care costs for people
without diabetes amounted to 2,560 in 2002
IHS studies show that between 1997 and 2001 the prevalence of diabetes
increased 33 in all major regions served by that agency
Among American Indian and Alaskan Native AI/AN adults, those between
the ages of 20 and 34 experienced an increase of diabetes
prevalence
between 1997 and 2001 of 52
Among all age groups of AI/ANs, adolescents aged 15-19 years
experienced a 106 increase in the prevalence of diabetes from 1990 to
2001
Indians are 26 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than
the general US population
Diabetes mortality is believed to be 43 times higher in the AI/AN
population than in the general US population
Special Diabetes Program for Indians - Background and Key Elements
1 Community Directed Diabetes Programs provide grant funds to 333 IHS,
tribal and urban Indian health programs to begin new or enhance
existing diabetes prevention and treatment initiatives The grantees
are able to tailor their programs to address their unique needs
2 Competitive Demonstration Projects provide grant funds to prevent
diabetes in high-risk individuals and to reduce cardiovascular
disease for individuals who already have diabetes The competitive
grant projects were launched in 66 American Indian and Alaska Native
communities at the end of 2004
3 The Diabetes Data Infrastructure provides funding
to strengthen the
diabetes information available by improving diabetes surveillance and
evaluation capabilities
Special Diabetes Program for Indians has Made a Difference
Outcome: The mean blood sugar level A1C decreased 13 from 900
percent unit in 1996 before the Special Diabetes Program for Indians
to 785 percent unit in 2006 after the Special Diabetes Program for
Indians This decrease is a major achievement over ten years
Impact: The scientific research shows that a one percent unit
decrease in A1C eg, a decrease from 800 percent unit to 700
percent unit translates to a 40 reduction in diabetes-related
complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, nerve disease, and
amputations
Some of the accomplishments of the Special Diabetes Program for
Indians over the past 8 years include:
? Improved quality of diabetes care through increased access to
diabetes prevention and treatment services in Indian communities,
including improvements in routine examinations and use of recommended
medications such as ACE
inhibitors;
? Improved and earlier diagnosis of diabetes, giving individuals a
better chance of avoiding complications and resulting in reduced
health care costs and improved quality of life;
? Increased prevention programs for children implemented at schools,
such as increased physical activity programs, improvements in the
quality of school lunches, removal of vending machines with junk food,
and diabetes awareness education;
? Increased number of community based wellness centers that provide
culturally appropriate exercise and nutrition programs for individuals
at risk for diabetes
Special Diabetes Program for Indians - Needs to be Reauthorized
With reauthorization and an increase in funding to 200 million per year,
the SDPI will continue to prevent and treat diabetes in AI/AN communities
Without reauthorization, all of the SDPI grant programs will end and all of
the accomplishments achieved over the last 8 years will be lost While the
ultimate outcomes of reducing the morbidity and mortality from diabetes
will take more years, the programs and activities implemented under
SDPI
provide a strong foundation and a new beginning towards a diabetes-free
future in Indian Country
———————–
National Indian Health Board
101 Constitution Avenue, NW, Suite 8B02 Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202 742-4262 Fax: 202 742-4285
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