According to the center for disease control, American Indian/Alaska Native adults are almost three times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes. In 2018, American Indians/Alaska Natives were 2.3 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes.
Native Americans (American Indians and Alaska Natives) have a greater chance of having diabetes than any other US racial group. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, a costly condition that requires dialysis or kidney transplant for survival. Kidney failure can be delayed or prevented by controlling blood pressure and blood sugar and taking medicines that protect the kidneys. Some diabetes symptoms to look for are urinating a lot, extreme thirst, losing weight without trying, blurry vision, numb feet or hands, tries and dry skin.
Good diabetes care includes regular kidney testing and education about kidney disease and treatment. Kidney failure from diabetes among Native Americans was the highest of any race. American Indians are almost three times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, 2.3 times more likely to die from diabetes, and twice as likely to be diagnosed with end-stage renal disease due to lack of treatment adherence. You can be proactive in preventing diabetes by asking your provider for blood work for kidney disease, checking your blood pressure and blood sugars regularly, talking with your healthcare provider about medication options, and reducing your salt intake to help lower your blood pressure and protect your kidneys.
