The Urban Inter-Tribal Center of Texas. Photo from Facebook

The Urban Inter-Tribal Center of Texas is helping the Indian community combat diabetes.

The clinic, located in Dallas, offers nutrition classes to tribal members who want to manage and prevent the disease. Patients learn about making healthy choices, such as avoiding fatty oils when making fry bread.

“Not like your grandma’s frybread,” Don Shelton, a 73-year-lold member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, told The Dallas Morning News, “but it’s good for you.”

Dr. Rodney Stapp, the CEO of the clinic, is also an avid promoter of the Nike N7 footwear collection. He credits the introduction of the specially-designed shoe with reducing the amputation rate from five to seven a year to just zero or one a year, the paper reported.

“We just want people to have the opportunity to do something with their lives,” Stapp, a member of the Comanche Nation, told the paper. “You’ve got to have education to do that, got to have good health to see it through.”

Stapp said the clinic has about 4,000 active patients who receive medical, dental and other services. The center receives funding from the Indian Health Service.

Get the Story:
Dallas’ Urban Inter-Tribal Center: A place for health and trust (The Dallas Morning News 7/7)

Related Stories:
Jodi Gillette joins board of directors for Notah Begay III Foundation (7/6)
Mark Trahant: Indian Country finds success in diabetes fight (05/19)
Coeur d'Alene Tribe takes proactive approach in diabetes fight (04/28)
Sen. Barrasso highlights 100 days of work on Indian legislation (04/16)
Congress passes renewal of Indian Country diabetes program (04/16)
Yvette Roubideaux: Diabetes program works for Indian Country (04/09)
New Mexico reports high rate of obesity among Indian children (04/06)
Navajo Nation makes headlines as first with tax on junk foods (03/31)