Health experts say diabetes rates in Indian Country continue to rise despite efforts to prevent and treat the disease.

American Indians and Alaska Natives are more likely to develop diabetes than any other racial or ethnic group. They are more than twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to get the disease.

But treatment programs can reduce the health risks, experts at a conference sponsored by the Indian Health Service and the Oklahoma Native American EXPORT Center said. The IHS has become more successful in treating the disease, said director Charles Grim.

The conference continues through Thursday at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Get the Story:
Diabetes still rising among Indians (The Oklahoman 8/23)
pwpwd

Related Stories:
Study tracks high rate of diabetes in Pima youth (7/26)Choctaw Nation health center takes on diabetes (06/12)
Study confirms benefits of diabetes control (12/22)
Native foods making their return to the table (11/23)
Native Harvest brings Native foods to the table (11/16)
Study warns of problems with diabetes drug (10/21)
32 percent of Native kids in California are overweight (09/09)
Rosebud Sioux Tribe holds 24-hour walk-a-thon (08/18)
Crow Tribe walks 166 miles to combat diabetes (05/26)
Navajo Nation launches 'Just Move It' campaign (05/09)
Report: Gene puts Indians at risk for diabetes (01/31)
Revised diet guidelines emphasize body weight (01/13)
20 percent of Oklahoma Indians have diabetes (11/15)
Indian center in Salt Lake City fight youth obesity (11/09)
Gila River Indian Community struggles with diabetes (11/09)
Obesity blamed for rising health care costs (10/20)
Heart disease, cancer showing up in Alaska Natives (10/19)
Report urges fight against childhood obesity (10/01)
Report calls on U.S. to honor health care commitment (08/30)
'Just Move It' campaign targets diabetes among Natives (08/27)
Pember: Obesity threatening Indian Country (08/02)
Indian doctor dedicates life to combating diabetes (07/30)
Tribal centers participate in youth diabetes study (07/28)
Medicare to allow some treatments for obesity (07/16)
Diabetes program reaches out to rural, elderly Navajos (06/07)
HHS says 41 million Americans at risk for diabetes (04/29)
Study documents urban Indian health disparities (04/21)
Diabetes and obesity ravage Native population (04/19)
Tribal colleges form network to combat diabetes (04/14)
CDC calls attention to health disparities in U.S. (02/09)
Preventive efforts touted by Surgeon General (2/5)
Study warns of rise in diabetes among Native youth (12/04)
Survey finds heavy health burden on Indian population (12/01)
Report documents unmet needs in Indian Country (7/23)