Diabetes Care in the Navajo Nation

Help individuals in the Navajo Nation fight Diabetes.

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, with greater numbers diagnosed with each passing year. In the past the disease could be disabling or even deadly, but thanks to advances in modern medicine, diabetes is not necessarily a death sentence—with careful monitoring, regular medication and healthy lifestyle changes, individuals can control the effects and live a long, productive life.

Unfortunately, in the Navajo Nation, the rate of diabetes is up to three times higher among the community, and prevalence doubled among adults in just a ten year period. To complicate matters, geographic isolation and high poverty prevent access to some of the most basic care. In recent years they've made great strides through programs aimed at educating youth and reintroducing locally grown and gathered foods, but they still require the basic tools and experienced individuals to effectively monitor the disease.

Partners In Health, alongside the Navajo Nation Community Health Representatives (CHR), supply this need by providing access to critical resources and by coaching clients on diabetes management. And a little help goes a long way. Just $25 provides the CHR with an entire month's worth of the blood glucose test strips used to monitor at-risk patients in the field.

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The Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) Project launched in 2009 to help improve the health of people living within Navajo Nation. A partnership between the Navajo Nation Community Health Representative Program, Indian Health Service, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Partners In Health, COPE provides training and resources to teams of community health workers.Their goal is to improve the overall health of high-risk patients with poorly controlled chronic diseases and those at risk of developing chronic diseases living within Navajo Nation.