APRIL 15, 2001
Smoke Signals 5
Dairy Trego; Controlling Diabetes for Life
By Justin Phillips
Native Americans and diabetes.
The two seem to go hand in hand.
Today, diabetes has reached epidemic propor
tions among Native Americans. Complications
from diabetes are major causes of death and health
problems in most Native American populations.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's abil
ity to produce or respond to insulin. Insulin is a
hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to
enter the cells of the body and be used for energy.
Diabetes falls into two main categories: Type I,
which usually occurs during childhood or adoles
cence and Type II, the most common form of the
disease, usually occurring after the age 40.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure.
The Tribe has hired Darcy Trego, Nutrition and
Diabetes Educator to help assist Tribal members
who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
A Roseburg native, Trego now resides in the
coastal community of Newport. She drives about
50 miles a day to work.
"People do crazy things to live on the coast," said
Trego.
Trego graduated from Portland's Marlyhurst
College with a Bachelor's degree in Home Econom
ics. Upon graduation she attended Oregon State
University to study to be a dietician.
She worked with the Indian Health Board Clinic
in Minneapolis after her internship.'
"That allowed me to do dietician, stuff without
having to work in a hospital," said Trego. "That
really wet my appetite for public health."
She then went back to the University of Minne
sota and received her Master's degree in Public
Health. Trego then lived in Minnesota for about
12 years before moving back to Oregon in 1990.
Trego is a Certified Diabetes Educator.
"I teach people enough about their diabetes so
they can have a life as close as they were living
prior to diabetes," said Trego. "The real key to
having a long and healthy life with diabetes is
knowing as much as you can about it. The more
you know about it, the less likely you are to get
the complications that are associated with it."
The serious complications of diabetes are increas
ing in frequency among Native Americans. Of
major concern are increasing rates of kidney fail
ures, amputations and blindness.
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EdUCatOrLifeSaver - The Tribe's new Nutri
tion and Diabetes Educator Darcy Trego has personal
experience with the heartache of diabetes. Now,
she devotes herself to educating people about the
deadly disease and has brought her wisdom and ex
perience to the people of the Grand Ronde commu
nity. Trego is available at the clinic on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Ten to 21 percent of all people with diabetes de
velop kidney disease. Among people with diabe
tes, the rate of diabetic end stage renal disease is
six times higher among Native Americans.
"For every one person we know that has diabe
tes, there are probably three out there that haven't
been diagnosed," said Trego. "It's a huge effort to
try to get those people identified so that they can
be treated. People can have diabetes and feel ok.
The big symptoms are excess thirst, urination and
blurred vision."
Each year 54,000 people lose one of their feet or
one of their legs to diabetes. Amputation rates
among Native Americans are three to four times
higher than the general population.
Trego lost her mother due to diabetes complica
tions. "She knew how to take care of herself," said Trego.
"The difference is the technology we have today
with the self monitoring of the glucose and the car
bohydrate counting. She didn't have those tools.
If she were diagnosed with diabetes today, there
would be no reason for her to die of renal failure."
Trego said she is excited about the technology
today.
"The things we heard of our parents or grand
parents dying of diabetes complications doesn't
have to happened anymore," said Trego.
Once a person is diagnosed with diabetes, Trego
interviews them and tries to find out what their
knowledge of diabetes is and what stage they are
& in.
She teaches people about the benefits of exer
cising regularly and to just about anything from
adjusting their diet to adjusting their medication
to level things out.
"Exercise and weight are two things we have a
lot of control over in terms of getting blood sugar
under control," said Trego.
Bonnie Tom, Wellness Manager, thinks having
Trego here is great.
"We were really excited to get her because of the
amount of people we have with diabetes and also
the people we have that are high risk for diabetes
that want to lose weight," said Tom. "So what Darcy
is doing is providing nutrition education to them."
Taking control of diabetes has many benefits.
Keeping your blood sugar levels in the normal range
can make a big difference now and in the future.
When not working, Trego enjoys gardening, ski
ing and reading.
Trego has two children Eric a freshman at
Montana State University and Barbara who is a
sophomore at Newport High School. She loves to
spend time with them and watch them when they
are involved in sports.
Trego works at the Grand Ronde clinic on Tues
days and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m. In the morn
ings she teaches a food class at Nestucca High
School and on Wednesday afternoons she teaches
an osteoporosis prevention class and a weight loss
program called The Solution.
If you or someone you know has diabetes or
think that they may have symptoms, call your lo
cal physician and get it checked out. For those of
you diagnosed, call Egypt Powley at 503-879-2078
to schedule an appointment with Trego today.
Life is short. Don't make it any shorter.
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Facilitator Jillene Joseph talks
about how chlamydia affects the
body and how to prevent it.
Tribal member Nathan Mueller
(at right) shows off his new
camera, just one of the many
prizes given away to participants.
"RISKY BUSINESS" - The Northwest Tribal Council Control Project of the Northwest Indian Health Board and the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde hosted a seminar called "Risky Business" at Spirit Mountain Casino on March 27. People of all
ages attended the seminar, although it was primarily focused on youth in 4th-12th grades. People who work with youth were also
encouraged to attend.
The participants learned how many risky behaviors are interrelated, specifically: cancer, addictive tobacco use and sexually
transmitted diseases (STD's).
"Overall, it went very well," said Peggy Biery, Project Specialist from the Northwest Tribal Cancer Control Project. "Both the
youth and staff participated in all the activities. The more knowledge that people have in the community the better. It was good
to see the youth and staff interact with each other on such issues."
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