U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,040,808 in funding for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) for diabetes treatment and prevention.
“Diabetes sadly plagues many in Montana’s Native communities, and through this funding the CSKT can continue to improve care for tribal members living with this disease,” Daines stated.
Native Americans have the highest rate of Type 2 diabetes in the United States.
Daines is a supporter of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). The 301 SDPI Community-Directed grant programs help to implement diabetes prevention and treatment interventions in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
On September 20, 2016, Daines authored a letter to the U.S. Senate leadership underscoring the importance of federal investments in this program.
Brenda Bodnar, CSKT Diabetes Program Manager: “Over the years the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Tribal Health Department’s Diabetes Program has observed the number of people with diabetes increase. With the increase in numbers follows the cost of complications. The cost is measured both in dollars and quality of life. Diabetes care here has expanded to include Integrated Care where patients can be seen for behavioral health therapy. The use of intense case management and care coordinators improves people with diabetes’ ability to be seen more quickly for medical care.”
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