Local Impact - South Dakota

Pete Fills the Pipe, Oglala Lakota

Pine Ridge IHS Diabetes Prevention Program

"My blood sugars are now in normal range, my blood pressure is good and I feel good. It’s been the high point in my life, being diabetes free."
- Pete Fills the Pipe

I didn’t know about pre-diabetes until this program. Our whole reservation is high risk for poverty, stress, suicide and diabetes. When I found out I was pre-diabetic, it was a trauma for me. I’m 58 years old and most of my friends and cousins are gone now from either diabetes or alcoholism. We’ve had to eat what was given to us since we’ve been on the reservation. You know, the food distribution programs weren’t so good. It’s changed now, this program teaches us how to eat and cook to be healthy and to exercise everyday. I walk 2.5 miles a day now.

My traditional belief is to respect life and that includes my body. You have to take care of your whole self, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Whatever is hard in your life you can pray and it will help you, but you have to meet the Creator half way. The program has helped me learn how to live a healthy lifestyle. I started by making small changes. It’s been hard changing my habits and I’ve had to discipline myself but it’s worth it. In our culture, in everything you do, you feed the people. It’s part of our tradition, its how we honor each other. But you know what - it doesn’t hurt to say “no” to unhealthy food or eat a smaller amount or feed the people something good for them. The program has helped me learn this. Our people go through this program and we learn and share this with our families. We become mentors. We’re just now beginning to see the results of this program in our communities. I believe our diabetes rates are going down because of this program. It’s become part of our healing, keeping ourselves in balance.

Diabetes in South Dakota

According to 2008 CDC data, approximately 39,000 people in South Dakota – 6.1% of the state’s population – had diagnosed diabetes, and many of them suffer from serious diabetes related complications or conditions. In addition to the human toll diabetes places on people in South Dakota, the financial burden diabetes places on the state’s health system is staggering – in 2007, the direct and indirect cost of diabetes in South Dakota was approximately $386 million.

Stories & Progams