Diabetes care for Native Americans is significantly underfunded, although that population has the highest per capita incidence of diabetes in the United States.
The most recent quarterly newsletter on diabetes care published by the global insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk indicates the Indian Health Services, the division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focusing on the concerns of Native Americans, is in dire need of increased financial support.
The IHS receives approximately $2,000 per person per year in funding, while Medicare is funded at more than $7,000 per person per year and Medicaid is financed at nearly $4,000 per person per year.
“Native Americans face particularly unique challenges that inhibit their ability to obtain adequate diabetes education and treatment,” said Jerzy Gruhn, president of Novo Nordisk. Gruhn stressed the need to help native communities hit hard by diabetes through legislative efforts and strategic partnerships with organizations.
The risk for diabetes is more than twice as high in Native Americans than in non-Hispanic whites.
The Danish firm emphasizes in the fourth edition of its BlueSheet newsletter that the consequences of poor diabetes control are particularly devastating to Native American communities. For example, the rate of diabetes-related kidney failure is 3.5 times higher among Native Americans than in the general U.S. population.
Gruhn said other issues related to resources and economics also contribute to the disparity. Due to the remote locations of many Native American communities, access to general practitioners and diabetes care specialists is limited, and in some cases basic medical supplies like gauze and antibiotic ointments are in short supply.