December 15, 2009
The Diabetes Prevention & Control crew: (front row) Shea Brumley, Kimberly Jung, Laurie Smith, Greg Moses, Susie Peter. (Back row) Wole Fadahunsi, Melanie Boyer, BJ Putnam, Barb Hill, Myra Sipary, Debbie Michael.
Diabetes Dancers ‘Move It' to Anchorage, win national innovation award
YKHC's Diabetes Prevention & Control Program has always sought ways to make diabetes education interesting, meaningful and even fun for the people in our region-emphasizing the dietary value of Native traditional foods, and the exercise value of subsistence work and other cultural activities, like dancing, in preventing and controlling diabetes.
Earlier this year, the diabetes team took up the dancing part in a big way-adapting the prevention message to a rather modern version of the traditional Yup'ik dance. The result urges folks to "wake up in the morning, eat healthy foods and move it move it move it!." Performed at last spring's Camai Dance Festival, YKHC's Tribal Gathering and schools, it's been a big hit throughout the region.
Earlier this month, the team showcased the dance at the Alaska Area Annual Diabetes Conference in Anchorage December 3. Their lunchtime performance got the usual reaction-Diabetes educators and clinicians from all over the state stood up and moved it, with cheers and laughter.
Appreciation for their innovative approach comes from outside Alaska as well. YKHC's Diabetes program received an honorable mention from the American Diabetes Association in their first annual "Voices for Change" awards for innovation. The awards support the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, which funds more than 300 community directed programs, including YKHC's, offering local tribes and health programs the opportunity to set priorities that meet the needs of their communities, whether it be prevention activities or treatment.
