Welcome to the SDPI Network

The Special Diabetes Program for Indians was created by Congress in 1997, and it has become our nation’s most effective effort in combatting diabetes in AI/AN communities. Congress must renew SDPI THIS YEAR to ensure that programs continue uninterrupted.

This will take ALL OF US working together. The National Indian Health Board has created this website to share information and provide new tools to help you participate in this campaign. Here you will find, for the first time, a new tool that documents, by each Member of Congress, history of support for SDPI, visits that have been conducted with their office, and other useful information.

Host an SDPI Site Visit With Your Member of Congress Today

Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) Visits Chickasaw Nation

On January 9th, the Chickasaw Nation Diabetes Care Center hosted an SDPI site visit with Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) at the Chickasaw Nation Diabetes Care Center in Ada, OK. The visit by Rep. Cole came one week after Congress voted to renew the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) for one-year at the current funding level of $150 million annually as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012...

Read More

Pictured from left to right:
Chickasaw Nation's Dr. Judy Goforth Parker and Shon McCage, Chair of ADA's Awakening the Spirit, and Representative Tom Cole

IHS releases SDPI Report to Congress documenting impressive outcomes from the federal investment.

The Department of Health and Human Services released “Making Progress Toward a Healthier Future,” the IHS 2011 Report to Congress on the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI)...

Click here to read more (PDF)

Latest News

Posted: April 22, 2013

NIHB Board Member Testifies at Oversight Hearing on Indian Health Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

March 19, 2013, Rex Lee Jim, NIHB Board Member, Navajo Representative & Executive Committee Member Vice President, Navajo Nation testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies on the importance of continued funding of the Indian Health Service and how the SDPI program can be used as a model of success because the SDPI program works in saving lives and the health outcomes achieved so far are resulting in significant federal cost savings.

House Oversight Hearing Testimony (PDF)

Posted: April 22, 2013

2013 Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) Members

View the current list of TLDC members (PDF)

Posted: December 18, 2012

Indian Health Service Director Adopts TLDC Strategic Plan

On December 12, the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, adopted the Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) Strategic Plan at the TLDC quarterly meeting at IHS Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. This represents an important milestone in reaffirming the TLDC’s value to the IHS Director as well as in setting in motion a restructuring of the Committee to address identified priorities.

Grantee Map

Click map to enlarge

Important Links

Chickasaw.tv

View Diabetes Awareness Video Series

American Diabetes Association

ADA Website
Awakening the Spirit SDPI Advocacy Materials (coming soon)

Local Impact

Ulela Harris,
Cherokee Diabetes Program

I lost my parents and a sister from complications of diabetes. I have 8 brothers and sisters living with diabetes and I was diagnosed in 1993 and immediately went on insulin. In those days, before the SDPI, we were diagnosed, sent to a nutritionist and sent home with medication. In spite of my family history of diabetes I really didn’t understand the disease. My motivation to join the Cherokee Diabetes Prevention Program in 2007 came when I was at the clinic because my blood sugars were out of control...

» Read More