Wednesday, February 5, 2025
2/5/2025
Diabetes is the major chronic health problem among the members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. As of August 2022, there were 1,855 tribal members who receive care at the Choctaw Health Center (CHC) who were diagnosed with diabetes. The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) has been operated at the CHC since 1998. The SDPI has a clinical component and an outreach component. The outreach program provides educational information to through individual counseling and group presentations explaining how to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and how to manage diabetes when diagnosed. During the 2023 grant year the SDPI will focus on Nutrition Education. We believe a person's healthy diet is important for diabetes prevention and management. SDPI staff will work with the Choctaw Tribal Schools presenting information about healthy eating to 5th and 6th grade students. It will partner with Choctaw Fresh Produce, the tribe's organic farm, demonstrating how to incorporate fresh vegetable into family meals. SDPI staff will conduct cooking demonstrations. Exercise is very important for good health. The tribe has a fitness center near the CHC. The SDPI program has two staff members who are assigned to the center with the mission of assisting diabetics and others seeking a healthy lifestyle with exercise programs. The clinical program provides direct care, including eye exams, foot exams, dental exams and case management. The two components coordinate to make sure that diabetic patients get the exams and medication which they need.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).