Muscogee Nation Hosts Annual Diabetes Awareness Summit

Hundreds of tribal members were in Glenpool to learn about diabetes and how to prevent it. This is the 16th year of the Diabetes Awareness Summit.

According to the CDC, Native Americans have a greater chance of having diabetes than any other racial group in the U.S.

The Muscogee Nation is looking to change that with summits like the one Tuesday.

Don Bateman takes part in the walking programs put on by the Muscogee Nation. He said these programs have helped him become healthier.

"They have really good programs on exercising and health that is really good for all the Creek Nation and the community center," said Bateman.

People also learned about eating healthy, how to spot a stroke, and how to reduce the risk of having a heart attack.

Organizers said they were happy to see so many tribal members are willing to learn more about getting healthy.

"To see everybody here, you know that they are making a commitment to their own lifestyle change so it's good to see that and they are buying into their own health," said Duane Meadows, with the Muscogee Nation Diabetes Program.

Tribal leaders hope people will take the lessons they learn at the summit, add them to their routine, and share the information with their family members.

"To sit down and talk to them and give them information they need to be able to hopefully go from here and make a difference in their lives, is really important," said Lance Frye, the Surgeon General of the Muscogee Nation.

Frye wants people to see that lifestyle changes do work.

"I hope that they gain hope from this, that they realize that there are things that they can do,” said Frye. “There are ways we can help them, information we can give them."

Bateman wants other tribal members to join him and get healthier too.

"To keep up their health and keep them from being sick with diabetes and different things," said Bateman.

The Muscogee Nation hosts this summit each year around August and September. The summit is open to members of the Muscogee Nation and other tribal members.