At a rate approximately 2 times the national average, AI/ANs have the highest prevalence of diabetes. In some AI/AN communities, over 50% of adults have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and AI/ANs are 1.8 times more likely to die from diabetes.
Congress established the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act to address the growing epidemic of diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. The Special Diabetes Program for Type 1 Diabetes (SDP) was established at the same time to address the opportunities in type 1 diabetes research. Together, these programs have become the nation’s most strategic, comprehensive and effective effort to combat diabetes and its complications. SDPI currently provides grants for 301 programs in 35 states.
This success is due to the nature of this grant program to allow communities to design and implement diabetes interventions that address locally identified community priorities. Tribal leaders have identified community adaptability to be a strong element of SDPI’s success. They have shared that the ability of the community to make local level decisions, choose best practices, and adapt the program to be culturally appropriate has been vital to its success.
The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) has been extended through March 31, 2025, at $39,261,745 million, held flat at its $160 million annual funding level. This would bring FY 2025 total funding to $79,590,512 million. On March 9, the program received a $10 million increase included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-42). This was the first increase the program had received in over 20 years. Temporary reauthorizations create uncertainty and demonstrates the need for long-term funding for this successful program.
We seriously need the Diabetes Prevention Program in our community. The longer it is here, the more people it will help to prevent diabetes.
– Charlotte McConnell, Tlingit, SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Lifestyle Balance and Diabetes Prevention Program
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