Potawot Diabetes Outreach Program

Potawot[edit | edit source]

The Diabetes program available at Potawot covers nine tribes and more than 13,000 American Indians, consisting mainly of Yurok, Weeot and Tolowa Tribal members. Potawot hosts United Indian Health Services' (UIHS) nationally recognized tobacco awareness and diabetes prevention programs which are featured at the Health Village.^[3] Because diabetes has become such a severe problem in the community, and throughout the world, Potawot and the UIHS have begun to take steps to address the problem (Fig. 2). The Potawot diabetes outreach program allows its participants to join groups that go on walks (Fig. 3 through 5) Monday through Wednesday during clinic hours.^[4] Members of Potawot also have the opportunity to join nutritional garden (Fig. 6 through 8) activities. The community food garden at Potawot consists of a two acre organic garden which produces 6-10 tons of fresh produce per year. It is distributed to the Indian community through produce stands, baskets, and other gardening outreach programs.^[5]

What is Diabetes?[edit | edit source]

There are many reasons why Potawot and UIHS try to help educate as many individuals as they can. One of the main reasons is because of the how diabetes affects an individual. Diabetes is a disease that affects the way an individual’s body uses food for energy. Normally, the sugar an individual takes in is digested and broken down to a simple sugar, known as glucose. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps move the glucose into cells. A healthy pancreas adjusts the amount of insulin based on the level of glucose. However, if an individual has diabetes, the process breaks down, and blood sugar levels become too high. People with Type 1 diabetes are completely unable to produce insulin, and people with Type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their cells don't respond to it.^[6] Due to the problems that diabetes causes, Diabetic patients at Potawot have their eating habits monitored as closely as possible. Clients of the Diabetic program are also encouraged to participate in more rigorous exercise routines.

Programs[edit | edit source]

Diabetic Native Americans and family members, who are UIHS members or enrolled at the Potawot health clinic, have a wide variety of activities and information available to them. Diabetics are provided with many different opportunities to enhance their health beyond dietary improvements. Their choices range from exercise and group sessions to one-on-one counseling.

The Potawot diabetes outreach program also provides members with a monthly luncheon, entitled Repchem. The Repchem luncheon is for members who are at risk or already have diabetes, along with their family members. The Repchem luncheon is held on every second Wednesday from 11 am to 1 pm at Potawot. The Repchem luncheons consists of a presentation on healthy lifestyle choices followed by a nutritious lunch.^[5] The nutritious lunch includes native foods such as fish, fruits, and fresh vegitables.^[4]

Services:^[7]

[edit | edit source]

Information and Services Provided by the Potawot Health Clinic Include:

• Individual and Group Fitness/Movement Programs.
• Diabetes Counseling.
• Foot Care Information.
• Diabetes Education by Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs).
• Instructions and review of blood glucose monitoring.
• Interpretation of blood tests and medication use.
• What you need to stay healthy and happy.
• Support Groups.
• Monthly Luncheons.
• Group Education Classes.
• Home Visits.
• Diabetes Education and Support.
• Community Health Events.

Future Plans[edit | edit source]

The Potawot Health Clinic is also planning on constructing some small work out stations along the paths (Fig. 4 and 5). The work out equipment will include Pull up bars.

• Pictures of Potawot Paths and the Garden
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  Fig. 3: One of the paths at Potawot.

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  Fig. 4: A rest area on one of the paths.

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  Fig. 5: Another rest stop.

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  Fig. 6: The entrance to the Garden.

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  Fig. 7: The garden.

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  Fig. 8: Some vegetables^[8]

Diabetes and Native Americans: The Facts[edit | edit source]

• The risk of a leg amputation is 15 to 40 times greater for a person with diabetes.^[9]
  • Each year 54,000 people lose their foot or leg to diabetes. ^[9]
  • Amputation rates among Native Americans are 3-4 times higher than the general population.

    

• Someone is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if:^[11]
  • They are overweight.
  • They are 45 years old or older (Fig. 9).
  • They have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.
  • Their family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic American/Latino, or Pacific Islander.
  • They have had gestational diabetes or gave birth to at least one child that weighed more than 9 pounds.
  • Their blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.
  • Their HDL cholesterol is 35 or lower, or their triglyceride level is 250 or higher.
  • They are fairly inactive, or they exercise fewer than three times a week.

Funding[edit | edit source]

Funding for diabetic programs provided at Potawot such as the Diabetes Expansion Project are funded by the California Endowment. The project works to assist California Indian Health Clinics in Diabetes Program Development & Education in regards to diabetes, complications of diabetes and diabetes prevention.^[7]

Update October 2017[edit | edit source]

The program has a new Physical Coordinator for the Diabetes Outreach Program as of March, 2017. Dennis Hernandez is an HSU graduate, and has been helping patients with Diabetes at Potawot learn how to remain physically active while teaching the importance of exercise. Dennis and his patients regularly utilize the trails, and the Arcata Community Pool for their sessions. There is also a small fitness center on-site that is open to patients and community members willing to sing a liability waiver. There is currently a four week long program at Bear River teaching patients and community members about Diabetes, with topics ranging from how to prevent diabetes, to how to prepare healthy food with limited access to heat, and how to get the right amount of exercise in, and managing medications. There is also a new seminar that is held by the Diabetes Dream Team not official named as such containing a nutritionist, a registered dietician, and a physical education coordinator; who will be reaching out to patients at risk for diabetes in hopes of taking preventive measures.

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  Equipment in the Fitness Center

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  Equipment in the Fitness Center

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  Water Fitness at the Arcata Community Pool

Related Links[edit | edit source]

• The Native Americans and Diabetes website provides links to sites that explain the severity of diabetes in the Native American community.
• The Eating Healthy website provides the reader with directions for eating healthy and staying healthy.
• The Diabetes Epidemic Among American Indians article provides insight on the epidemic that is spreading throughout the American Indian community.
• Check out the Potawot Category to learn more about other Potawot topics.

References[edit | edit source]

The Potawot Diabetes Outreach Program page was edited and created by Engr. 115 student Yuvizela Martinez.