New Science-Based Diabetes Curriculum for Native American Students

Format: Curriculum
Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Nearly 17 percent of the total adult population served by the Indian Health Service (IHS) has been diagnosed with diabetes. Once seen only in adults, type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in youth, especially in American Indian and other minority populations.

To help address the issue of diabetes among Native American and Alaska Native children, eight tribal colleges and universities, several Native American organizations, NIH, IHS, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated to develop a comprehensive curriculum called “Health is Life in Balance.” The curriculum, a product of the Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools (DETS) program, integrates science and Native American traditions to educate students about science, diabetes and its risk factors, and the importance of nutrition and physical activity in maintaining health and balance in life. Applying an inquiry-based approach to learning, the curriculum builds research skills in observation, measurement, prediction, experimentation, and communication.

Next Steps
You can order printed copies or CDs of the curriculum free of charge through the IHS Web site at www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/Diabetes.

For more information on diabetes control and prevention, go to www.ndep.nih.gov.