Mind, body, spirit to control diabetes

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The Aboriginal Diabetes Wellness program has helped more than 2,100 people manage the illness in its four years of existence.

"It was iniated because of the need to provide Aboriginal people with a diabetes program," said program manager Elmer Ghostkeeper. "As you know, there is a large amount of our people with diabetes in our communities. It is estimated at about 26 percent."

Ghostkeeper said some communities have even more, but on average one out of every four Aboriginal people have diabetes.

Although the program focuses on the Aboriginal view that the mind, spirit, and emotions create the physical body, patients also acquire scientific knowledge of diabetes.

"Some of them don't even have a clue (about diabetes) because the first thing we ask them when they come in is if their doctor sat down and explained what diabetes is," said program co-ordinator Sherri Di Lallo. "About 99 per cent of them say that no one explained what is happening to their bodies."

The program analyzes diabetes as a responsibility disease in that the stress of responsibility affects the mind. In turn, the mental stress deteriorates the physical being and contributes to the problems of diabetes, explained Ghostkeeper.

"A lot of the people that come through don't know much about spirituality or that spiritual aspect at all. That is a part of your healing from a mental and emotional aspect," said Ghostkeeper. "A lot of them have had very traumatic experiences, so they have been packing around a lot of grieving because they haven't let go. So in the sharing circles in talking with the Elders one-on-one they let that go."

The program is run through four-day workshops that begin with the Native traditions of a pipe ceremony and sharing circle. The staff includes two Elders who travel in from nearby First Nations to provide spiritual guidance for the patients.

"We do sharing circles so we can look at the four aspects of self that make your physical body," said Ghostkeeper. "So literally every day that you get up you have the ability to be healthy and happy, or sick and sad."

The program is run out of the Aboriginal Wellness Centre that provides a residence and kitchen for the patients. It is also located across from the Royal Alexandra Hospital where necessary laboratory tests are processed.

"Blood has to be tested and urine has to be tested, and we work with three western doctors that come in," said Di Lallo.

Since March of this year the program has already helped 378 people from Alberta , Northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia.

"I feel really honored to be part of this program. It helps so many people to look at themselves in a holistic way, and I believe in wellness, looking at all areas," said Di Lallo. "Being a part of that and promoting that has really helped my life too. When they come to us and say they have never been taught it breaks my heart, but it also inspires me to facilitate the workshops."