ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A diabetes prevention program that aims to encourage young American Indians and Alaska Natives to adopt healthy lifestyles early in life is reaching millions of people, according to a recent survey.

Information about the Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools initiative reached more than 13 million people last year, according to the recently completed 2009 Recruitment Web Survey.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, IHS, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DETS was developed to change perceptions, knowledge and attitudes about diabetes through classroom learning experiences that empower American Indian and Alaska Native students to live healthier lifestyles.

Diabetes was rare among American Indian and Alaska Native peoples until about 50 years ago, according to the DETS Web site. Since then, diabetes has become one of the most common and serious illnesses among indigenous peoples in North America. In 2002, more than 100,000 AI/AN adults, or nearly 15 percent of those receiving care from IHS, had diabetes. American Indians and Alaska Natives are at least three times more likely to have diabetes than the general population, and in an even more alarming turn of events, Type 2 diabetes, which was long considered to be an adult disorder, is now prevalent among the young.

The DETS Health Is Life in Balance diabetes prevention curriculum for grades K-12 was designed to increase AI/AN students’ understanding of health, diabetes, and maintaining life in balance; to increase their understanding and application of scientific and community knowledge; and to increase interest in science and health professions.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia participated in DETS curriculum activities last year. The activities included school visits, media outreach, conference participation, community events, teacher workshops, advocacy meetings and phone outreach. The survey collected information about the nature of DETS curriculum outreach activities, the areas influenced by those activities, and the approximate number of people reached through each effort.

The states that have implemented the DETS curriculum include: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and Washington, D.C.

“While it takes a number of years to begin to see quantifiable results in the health of a population, this survey suggests that the DETS program is being received with great enthusiasm,” said Carol Maller, DETS director at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. “The American Indian and Alaska Native population is almost three times more likely to have diabetes than the general population and the DETS program is giving these students the knowledge they need to make healthy lifestyle choices.”

Following up on the survey and in an effort to continue the momentum DETS has gained, SIPI hosted a two-day DETS Steering Committee meeting Jan. 26 and 27 to discuss the progress and future of the program.

Representatives from Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Fort Peck Community College, Haskell Indian Nations University, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, Leech Lake Tribal College, Northwest Indian College and Stone Child College attended the conference along with SIPI representatives.

“The Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is honored to co-host the DETS Steering Committing meeting,” said SIPI President Dr. Sherry Allison. “This program has come a long way since it was first launched in 2008 and we must remain diligent in our efforts to drive behavioral changes and reduce Type 2 diabetes diagnoses in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

The 2009 Recruitment Web Survey was conducted throughout 2009 by the DETS program. According to the report, data was self-reported and is not scientific.