Diabetes-related kidney failure rate drops drastically among Native Americans

The rate of kidney failure related to diabetes among Native American adults dropped more than 50 percent between 1996 and 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported recently.
The CDC said the rate now matches that of Caucasian people.
Although the diabetes-related kidney failure rate also fell for other racial and/or ethnic groups in the same period, Native Americans represented the largest decline. The CDC credits recent health care changes for the significant improvement.
“The Indian Health Service has made tremendous progress by applying population health- and team-based approaches to diabetes and kidney care,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said. He added that a similar change can take place for all Americans.
“Strong coordinated clinical care and education, community outreach and environmental changes can make a dramatic difference in reducing complications from diabetes for all Americans,” he said.
According to the Indian Health Service, Native Americans and Alaska natives born now have a lower life expectancy -- about 4.4 years less -- than all other races in the United States. Native Americans and Alaska natives also continue to die at higher rates from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, unintentional injuries, assault/homicide, intentional self-harm/suicide, and chronic lower respiratory diseases