Attention

One of the more serious problems that Obesity has caused for Native Americans is the fact that we are intolerant of the effects that it has had on us and are prone to suffer from Diabetes. In Fact in recent reports Narive Americans suffer more from Diabetes because of extreme weight gain. We need to encourage more of our brothers and sisters to look into this surgery for most of us that have had it like myself we are no longer having to take insulin, and medications. This seems to be a Message Board that is less frequently visited than others. But it is a serious matter among Natvie Americans, and one that needs to be addressed. I hope that we can begin to tell others and encourage them to get the help they need. Do you have any comments or suggestions?

I hear you, my brother. Diabetes and all the complications that come with it continues to cause so much suffering among Native Americans. I am still pretty new as my surgery was in Sept. I have not lost much weight yet and continue to need fills because I have one of the larger bands. I don't know what the answer is but obesity is usually the culprit. I think this should be addressed just as seriously as other addictions are among the Native healthcare community. Perhaps if enough of us are successful at losing the weight, however we do it, we can share our experience with others who may be able to get the topic of obesity and its treatment addressed at one of our many health conferences.

Obesity is one of the major contributing factors in the dilema with Diabetes, among everyone who suffers with it, Native Americans according to documentaries, and studies that I have seen have a higher intolerance to carbohydrates, and this leads to more diabetes among our people, I did not have a banded operation, I opted for the RNY, in my cir****tance this has saved my life. While others take the option of having the Lap Band. Whatever we do in order to help us lose the weight is a major step in the right direction. With the RNY I can no longer tolerate foods that have lots of sugar in them. I congratulate you on your surgery, and I know that it will help tremendously. Weight loss for all of us come at different levels, some lose faster than others, the main thing to remember is the weight loss, and not the rate in which you lose it. I am hoping in the near future to start having conferences for people in my area to talk to them about weight loss and alternatives to this situation. These operations aren't for everyone but it saved my life. Thanks for your reply.