Diabetes Education for Tribal Schools (DETS)
Background
There has been a six-fold increase in people known to be living with diabetes in the United States (U.S.) in the past four decades. A 33% increase in the past decade (from 1990 to 1998) and a 76% increase in people in their 30s was recently reported (Mokdad, et al, 2000). Almost all of these cases can be attributed to type 2 diabetes, which is increasing globally. In 1995 the worldwide prevalence was estimated to be 135 million people but by the year 2025 that number is expected to rise to 300 million people (King, Aubert, & Herman, 1998). Diabetes brings with it the potential to cause serious complications, including blindness, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, periodontal disease, and lower extremity amputations.
Diabetes was rare among American Indian and Alaska Native peoples until about 50 years ago. Since that time, diabetes has become one of the most common and serious illnesses in tribal nations of North America (Narayan, 1997). In 2002, more than 100,000, or nearly 15% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults receiving care from the Indian Health Service (IHS) were estimated to have diabetes. The total prevalence of diabetes is at least three times that for non-Hispanic whites of similar age. Prevalence rates vary by Tribal Nations, rising to 15.9% among the Plains Tribes (CDC, 1998). In a new and alarming turn of events, type 2 diabetes, typically considered an adult disorder, is now emerging in all populations of youth in the U.S., including American Indian/Alaska Native populations (Narayan, Gregg, Fagot-Campagna, Engelgau, & Vinicor, 2000).
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has determined that effective programs should be initiated to decrease the rising incidence and prevalence and the severe complications of diabetes in the American Indian and Alaska Native communities. An essential component of this program is to educate the communities, especially the children, about preventive measures and effective management regimen of diabetes. An equally important component of this initiative to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health is a program to increase the number of American Indian and Alaskan Native children entering into the biomedical professions. These children who will become the future leaders in the biomedical sciences will be instrumental in helping to improve the general health in these communities.
An effective means of reaching and educating the youth in these communities is through the Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). The TCUs conduct high quality programs for educating American Indians and Alaskan Natives, and promote achievement among their students. They represent a rich resource of talent with the appropriate cultural sensitivity and perspectives needed in science education in Tribal communities. The TCUs will be instrumental in interacting with Tribal elementary, middle and high schools, and can develop culturally sensitive programs that can be implemented in the elementary, middle and high schools.
Purpose :
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and the Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) joined together to develop an educational program to enhance understanding and appreciation of diabetes and related science in tribal elementary, middle and high schools. Through better understanding of diabetes, Tribal children can be instrumental in preventing the development and better managing diabetes, and reducing its human costs. This goal can be better achieved through greater numbers of tribal children entering into the health science professions.
Description :
The Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools Program will incorporate a diabetes based science curriculum that will enhance understanding and appreciate of the problems of diabetes in American Indian communities, and will stimulate general student interest in diabetes-based science in the early years (pre-college) of education. Selected TCUs have been funded to develop supplemental curricula for K-12 schools in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. The investigators have decided to develop 3 parallel curricula, K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 that will be sequential and interrelated to give a continuum of exposure to diabetes based science education. The curricula will be based on National and State science education standards with Native cultural content standards. The initial draft of the curricula will be tested in selected K-12 schools to assess teacher acceptance and student reception of the message. Appropriate revisions will be carried out before implementation in all schools serving American Indian and Alaska Native pre-college children.
Time Line:
- Phase 1, Planning Phase; selected TCUs funded to discuss feasibility of designing appropriate curricula for diabetes based science education in K-12 schools in American Indian and Alaska Native communities from October 1, 2001 to September 30, 2002.
- Phase 2, Curriculum Development and Pilot Testing Phase; Funded TCUs develop K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 parallel curricula, pilot test in selected K-12 schools, and revise for fielding in all K-12 schools in American Indian and Alaska Native communities from October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2007.
- Phase III, Implementation Phase; The parallel curricular fielded in K-12 schools serving American Indian and Alaska Native pre-college students.
Participating Institutions
Candeska Cikana Community College
P.O. Box 269College Drive
Fort Totten, ND 58335
PI: Thalia Esser
Fort Peck Community College
Highway 2E, Box 398
Poplar, MT 59255
PI: Margaret Campbell
Haskell Indian Nations University
155 Indian Avenue, Box 5014
Lawrence, KS 66046
PI: Marilyn M. Hertzel
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
107 Beartown Road
Baraga, MI 49908
PI: Lynn Aho
Leech Lake Tribal College
P. O. Box 180
Cass Lake, MN 56633
PI: Roberta Blackcrow
Northwest Indian College
2522 Kwina road
Bellingham, WA 98226
PI: William Freeman, M.D., M.P.H.
Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute
9169 Coors Road, NW
P. O. Box 10146
Albuquerque, NM 87184
PI : Carol Maller
Stone Child College
RR1 Box 1082
Box Elder, MT 59521
PI: Janet Belcourt
Federal Agencies
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD
Contacts:
Lawrence Agodoa, M.D., Director, Office of Minority Health Research Coordination
Sanford Garfield, Ph.D., DETS Program Director
National Diabetes Prevention Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Albuquerque, NM 87004
Contacts:
Lemyra Debruyn, Ph.D.,Team Leader
National Diabetes Program, Indian Health Service
Albuquerque, NM
Contacts:
Kelly Acton, M.D., Director, NDP, HIS
Kelly R. Moore, M.D., Clinical Specialty Consultant
Office of Science Education, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD
Contact:
Bonnie Kalberer, Senior Program Analyst
Other Participants
PS International
Doug Coulson, Ph.D., Evaluation Consultant
Page last updated: May 05, 2008
