DIABETES PREVENTION IN AMERICAN-INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES - WHERE ARE WE IN 1994

American Indians and Alaska Natives have experienced rapidly increasin g rates of non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM). To address this epi demic Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal communities have develope d primary, secondary and tertiary intervention strategies. The scienti fic basis for secondary and tertiary prevention supports well-defined care practices, and the surveillance of the implementation of these pr actices and their impact on metabolic and hypertension control is now standard. Community interventions for the primary prevention of diabet es are underway and reflect the priorities of individual communities.