Indigenous Diabetes Education Alliance (IDEA)

The Indigenous Diabetes Education Alliance (IDEA) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, which was formed to assist diabetic Native Americans living on Indian reservations through educational awareness and nutritional life-style changes. Established in 2001, one of IDEA’s main objectives was to help provide Native raised bison meat for diabetics living on Indian reservations and to compile and evaluate the medical data on each of the participants in the bison meat program to determine what affects a more traditional diet has on the health of Indian people. IDEA hopes one day this bison meat program will be adopted for all diabetic patients on the reservation as part of a long term health care goal.

Diabetes has become an epidemic in Indian Country. According to statistics from the American Diabetes Association, 1 out of 8 adult Native Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes. On some reservations in the Southwest, that ratio is as high as one out of two adults. The rate of amputations, blindness, and other diabetes-related complications are growing at an accelerated rate while the age of onset becomes younger each year.

The impact of a post-reservation diet, which is high in fat and sodium, has had a devastating effect on the health of Indian people. Diabetes within the Native American communities is occurring at alarmingly high rates. IDEA hopes that a return to a healthier, traditional native diet will help improve the overall health of Indian people.

The IDEA project works directly with the tribal bison herd managers, diabetes program director and tribal dieticians in ensuring that nutritional education and food preparation instruction are available, an exercise program is discussed and that bison meat is distributed to the project on a weekly basis.

As part of this diabetes project, participants receive an orientation on the healthful benefits of bison meat, how to prepare healthy bison dishes and how to incorporate other healthy lifestyle changes to improve their condition, such as increased exercise, weight control and overall change in diet. IDEA hopes that these findings will serve to educate Indian communities of the seriousness of this epidemic. By bringing awareness to the community, perhaps others will consent to be tested for diabetes rather than allowing it to go untreated.