“The first inhabitants of our nation [Indians] are important differences among the worst health in the world, and this should not be accepted by all,” said Donald Warne, MD, MPH, in his article in the Winter 2008 edition of the Practitioner-Pain Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Management. While studying for his Master of Public Health, Dr. Warne brought this disturbing and surprising facts about this neglected population in our health care system.
“Mortality from preventable diseases are at [Indians] much higher than among non-Indians:
* Diabetes (type 2): 291% more
* Alcohol: 638% more
* Accidents: 215% more
* Suicide: 91% more ”
Dr. Warne suggests that these problems are in synergy, to remind us of the triad of diabetes, depression and alcoholism are looking for. Depression is often aligned with diabetes, alcohol is a practical tool for self-medication is alcohol increases blood sugar levels and alcohol and its effects worsen depression and lead to suicide.
Nerve damage and nerve pain – High rates of alcoholism and type 2 diabetes are associated with neuropathy in combination. Over time, diabetes can develop diabetic neuropathy (DPN). DPN pain may be felt as burning, throbbing, or painful tingling in the limbs, hands or feet. Self-medication for these painful symptoms often associated with alcohol and abuse of prescription drugs in this underserved population. This results in less of a desire to provide the medical community for drugs, if necessary, for these patients.
The solution for the treatment of ethnic American Indian is the knowledge and application of medical devices-wheel system. “The Medicine Wheel, and the traditional symbol for old Lakota medicine symbolizes balance in our lives The wheel is divided into four segments; .. physical, emotional, mental and spiritual” When an Indian is treated by an allopathic physician, the physician must to examine not only the physical component (high blood sugar), but also the development of culturally appropriate patient. In traditional Indian culture, medicine and involves a spiritual realm is a healing force, not in the control of human – neither the doctor nor the patient. “Traditional healers are channeling that energy in the right direction, but they did not have the energy.”
“In Arizona, the average age of death was 72.2 for the general population and 54.7 for RNs. This should be front page. This should be considered a crisis. This should be considered not acceptable to this nation.” The first step to resolve the crisis of physical and mental health in the North American Indians is ethnic awareness, public awareness and understanding of the medical community of this complex triad of interactive medical preventable: diabetes, depression and alcoholism.
