Introduction
Why do I think diabetes is important for young Navajo children to understand? An observation of Native American Indians shopping at our local grocery store is frightening. Most young parents will fill up their shopping carts with sugary foods or foods that are high in carbohydrates. I am guilty of such acts, but by researching the effects of typical foods that we purchase on the Navajo Nation, I believe we can begin to develop better eating habits. The article by Special Diabetes Program for Indian (SDPI) shows data that was astounding.1 Diabetes hit the Alaskan Natives (AN) and American Indians (AI) twice as much as the total population of United States adults. The diabetic rate for AN and AI is as high as 60% among adults, compared to 8.3% for U.S. adults. 2
Diabetes is one of the most serious and devastating diseases in the United States, especially for AI/AN people, whom have the highest rates of diabetes in the world.3 My job is to show our Navajo children that diabetes is becoming a bigger problem among their generation. SDIP shows a dramatic increase of diabetes in young Native American Indians from 1994 to 2009. Data shows increase as much as 110% in AI/AN youth ages 15-19 years and 161% in AI/AN young adults ages 25-34 years.4 Developing a sound curriculum with good resources is a positive step in the right direction for our young generation’s lives.
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