February 15, 2009

Basketball For Diabetes Prevention: The Men’s 35+ Basketball League of Bethel helps prevent diabetes in the YK Delta by being physically active on most days of the week. In Left to right: Fritz Brown from Kipnuk, Dennis Jimmie from Kwigillingok, Harvey Fox from Kipnuk, Ryan Thompson from Mt. Village.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

By Annette Coyle, RD LD, Coordinator, YKHC Diabetes Prevention & Control

In his inauguration speech, President Obama said "What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility-a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world..." I believe that he would agree that part of being responsible to ourselves is doing all we can to maintain our health. Healthy people make healthy communities. Healthy communities make healthy states. Healthy states make a healthy nation. Everyone benefits.

The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." How do you define health? At the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program we are dedicated not only to educating individuals with type 2 diabetes on the best way to manage their disease, but also to teaching people how to prevent type 2 diabetes. Being free of type 2 diabetes is a big part of our definition of health. Being free of type 2 diabetes doesn't require much-just adherence to a few basic principles along with some determination and personal responsibility.

Type 2 diabetes is prevented by taking three simple steps:

eating healthy food,
being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day five days a week,
remaining at a healthy weight.

Eating healthy means eating Native foods from the land - fish, birds, moose, caribou, tundra greens and berries-along with whole grains, fruits and vegetables from the store.

There are many ways to be active each day. Doing chores can be a good workout. Try chopping wood or hauling water for 30 minutes! Park the snow machine or four-wheeler and walk to the store or post office. Play with your children. Enjoy a game of basketball at open gym. Dance. Check out ski jumping on Wii^TM Fit. Just get moving.

If you are at a healthy weight, stay there. If you need to lose a few pounds, cut back on the amount of food you eat and increase your activity. Start small and keep going. You can do it.

Remember, "some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to." Are you determined to prevent type 2 diabetes?

If you would like to know more about how to prevent type 2 diabetes, please call YKHC Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at 543-6133 or 1-877-543-6133 for a packet of information.

2008-2009 School Physical Activity Award Grantees

The check is in the mail! Last fall the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program invited schools on the Y-K Delta to apply for physical activity awards for the purpose of increasing physical activity among their student population. We are pleased to announce that 15 schools will receive money to begin or enhance a physical activity program.

We know that physical activity is important for overall health for everyone-it is especially important that children are active. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children do at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Being physically active is one way to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

Akiak School students will enjoy cross-country skiing as will the students at David Lewis Memorial School in Grayling. A dance troupe will be a feature of the Auntie Mary Nicoli Elementary School in Aniak. UAF Kuskokwim Campus - Bethel will receive funding for bicycles and skis to help their students get around town and stay active.

Watch out for the students at Emmonak School learning how to wrestle with their new mat and supplies.

Students at Holy Cross School will be strengthening their hearts, lungs, and legs on their new elliptical bike and treadmill.

Ballet is a new activity offered at Zackar Levi Elementary School in Lower Kalskag.

Students at William N. Miller Memorial School in Napakiak will enjoy using their new inline skates and supplies while students at Z J William Memorial School in Napaskiak and Nelson Island School in Toksook Bay will have a great time with their new gym equipment and supplies.

Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat in Quinhagak will receive funding for a variety of outdoor activity supplies.

Some students at George Willis Sr. School in Red Devil will be rockin' to Dance Dance Revolution, while others will keep busy chopping wood for elders with the supplies and equipment they will receive.

The Terikaniaq Dog Team at Tuluksak School will benefit from extra funding.

Finally, the students at Lewis Angapak Memorial School in Tuntutuliak will be introduced to snowshoeing.

We applaud all schools for caring about the health of their students and for helping to prevent type 2 diabetes in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Congratulations and have fun! We hope we will be invited to come and play with you.

Community fitness and garden project funding available

YKHC's Diabetes Prevention and Control (DP&C) Program is pleased to announce two different funding opportunities.

The 2009 Garden Award application process opened February 2, 2009 and is available to YK Delta villages interested in building or maintaining a community greenhouse or garden. Gardens and greenhouses are a great way for children and adults to learn together how to plant, maintain and harvest fresh and healthy vegetables that their whole community can enjoy. The deadline to apply for the Garden Award is February 27, 2009 at 5 p.m.

The 2009 Community Activity Award application process opened February 9, 2009 and is available to YK Delta villages interested in creating and/or maintaining long-term community activity programs aimed at increasing healthy lifestyle choices on the Delta and reducing the risk of many chronic health diseases. The deadline to apply for the Community Activity Award is March 13, 2009 at 5 p.m.

A new requirement for both grants this year is that each applicant must sign an agreement to spend funds only as described. In addition, monthly progress reports are to be submitted to the DP&C until all equipment is purchased and received and the program is fully functioning. Copies of vendor invoices are to be mailed or faxed in a timely manner to DP&C. Photos of projects are welcomed and appreciated.

Another new requirement is that before submission the applicant will review their application with one of the outreach coordinators. This will ensure that all information in the application is complete.

There are several ways to submit an application for each award. Both the 2009 Garden Award application and the 2009 Community Activity Award application can be downloaded from the DP&C website at www.ykhc.org/diabetes. They can also be faxed to 1-907-543-6143, sent by mail to the address below, or emailed to one of the outreach coordinators listed below.

Community Activity Award Applications
Diabetes Prevention & Control Program
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation
P. O. Box 528
Bethel, Alaska 99559

Outreach Coordinators:

Kim Jung -- kim_jung@ykhc.org -- 543-6114
Deborah A. Michael -- deborah_michael@ykhc.org -- 543-6542
Gregory Moses -- greg_moses@ykhc.org -- 543-6437
Laurie Smith -- laurie_smith@ykhc.org -- 543-6451

Oscarville received one of the garden awards last year and celebrated their harvest with a special dinner. Everyone who attended had a great time picking turnips, lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, parsley, and even some flowers for a small centerpiece.

Past community activity award recipients utilized funds to purchase items such as gym equipment, traditional dance gear (fabric, dance fans, drums, etc.), beaver pelts, helmets, outdoor gear, camping tent, stove, traps, hooks, and ice picks.