Shoshone-Paiute Diabetes Program Gets People Walking, Improves Restaurant Menu

Shoshone-Paiute Diabetes Program

The Shoshone-Paiute Diabetes Program, located in Owyhee, Nevada, was first awarded funding from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) in 1997, and has been conducting diabetes prevention and management activities for 15 years. At the end of 2011, staff looked back on what they had recently accomplished:

• Tribal community members harvested organic food from the tribe's "Hoop House" a hot house built from large hoops and plastic. Youth through elders helped build the Hoop House, moving soil, tilling, planting, caring for and harvesting produce. The Hoop House is located next to a community church, which hosted a December pot roast dinner featuring organic new potatoes and onions from the garden.
• Depression screening and eye care best practices were implemented. Statistics from the optometry program showed that 747 patients were seen in the tribe's optometry clinic from September 2011 to October 2011. (There are approximately 2,000 people living in the Owyhee and surrounding areas.)
• Rez Yoga reported that as many as 17 people attended the twice-weekly classes. Attendees say that it helps them be more flexible, build muscle and reduce stress.
• The December Diabetes Health Fair held on December 15 had 95 participants. To show that health benefits can be obtained by walking for only 10 minutes twice a day, the walk/run part of the day was divided into two parts: a morning 10-minute and an afternoon 10-minute walk/run. Between the walk/runs, a lunch featuring a pita-pocket taco named "Ya ah Be Sha Pi-ta-co" was served. It contained rinsed lean ground beef seasoned with spices, home-made pinto beans, lettuce, tomatoes and low-fat cheese. A reservation restaurant, Taste of Heaven Kountry Kitchen, has added the "Ya ah Be Sha Pi-ta-co" to its menu that includes other items listed under a new category: Healthy Heart Options.