Footsteps to Wellness, One Moccasin at a Time; A Diabetes Prevention Program

Indian Health Center (IHC) has been providing its Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to American Indian/Alaska Native community members since 2004. The curriculum is based on a study sponsored by National Institute of Health (NIH) in 2002, which found that intensive lifestyle intervention with 7% weight loss and 150 minutes of physical activity can lower the risk of diabetes by 58%. Because American Indians have the highest rate of diabetes of any group in the world, in 2004 the Indian Health Service funded DPP pilot programs in Indian communities across the country to translate the NIH study from research to community settings. After seven years of translation, the program is now an IHS best practice. Because of its tremendous success in preventing diabetes in the Native community, in 2007 the IHC started pursuing additional funding to enhance the program to reach other at-risk populations. Of DPP's 152 participants, 57% are over the age of 50 and 17% are over the age of 60. DPP's innovative 17-week multi-generational lifestyle change program is grounded in American Indian healing traditions addressing body, heart, mind and spirit and taught by a multidisciplinary team of professionals including a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, Mental Health Counselor, Kinesiologist, Fitness Trainers and Health Educators. The evidence-based curriculum includes topics on healthy eating, exercise, stress management, and building support for lifestyle changes. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Tai Chi for seniors and Walking Spirit are evidence based programs that are incorporated into IHC's DPP to accommodate aging participants.