Diane Hawk Surgery Project


Diane Hawk Surgery Project Esevonene'ehne'e Buffalo Walking Woman	Read Update: 100 Pounds Later!
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
This site is now a historical record of Diane Hawk's extraordinary journey toward health. As you read the pages be aware that Diane Hawk is now alive, healthy, and living a life of purpose and productivity. Follow the steps of her journey . . .

The Diane Hawk Case
Hope for Morbidly Obese Native Americans with Diabetes
News Release: April 29, 2003

What Are the Facts?

FACT: The United States Senate has approved special diabetes program funding for Native Americans, increasing funds from $100 to $150 million annually through 2008.

More information: On November 20, 2002, the Senate approved HR 5738 by unanimous consent without debate. HR 5738 increases funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians from $100 million to $150 million annually (beginning in FY 2004) and extends the program through FY 2008. The Special Diabetes Program funds are distributed to Tribal governments through the 12 Indian Health Service Area Offices based on a formula that considers diabetes prevalence, mortality, and user population. The Program also includes $5 million for urban Indian health programs. Funds have been used to: develop and enhance diabetes programs; to create, improve, and enhance diabetes care provider teams at the tribal level; and to establish and improve local diabetes clinics. Most importantly, these funds have provided tribes the opportunity to directly address diabetes prevention at the tribal community level.
Source: National Indian Health Board http://www.nihb.org/issue_diabetes.htm

FACT: Gastric Bypass Surgery has the potential for curing Type 2 Diabetes.

More information: In an article in the Annals of Surgery, January 2002, Doctors Francesco Rubino and Michel Gagner reviewed the effect of morbid obesity surgery on type 2 diabetes mellitus (affecting more than 150 million people worldwide), analyzing data that might explain the mechanisms of action of these surgeries and that could answer the question of whether surgery for morbid obesity can represent a cure for type 2 diabetes in nonobese patients as well. Current therapies do not achieve a cure, but a long-term follow-up shows that gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion seem to achieve control of diabetes as a primary and independent effect with the potential to change the current concepts of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and, possibly, the management of this disease.
Source: The Annals of Surgery http://www.annalsofsurgery.com/
See also: WebMD Article Obesity Surgery Helps Type 2 Diabetes

FACT: A connection needs to be made between funding and performance of gastric bypass surgeries on Native Americans. Diane Hawk’s case has the potential to draw nationwide attention to this issue.

More information: Diane Hawk is a morbidly obese diabetic Cheyenne woman whose doctor (Brett Krablin, M.D.) has determined that gastric bypass surgery is a medically necessary procedure and will likely prevent further life-threatening complications of diabetes, joint disintegration, and congestive heart failure. Her surgery and post-surgical course will be performed and documented by Dr. Henry Pearce of the Bariatric Institute of Oklahoma. Diane’s case is intended to serve as an experimental subject leading to acquisition of funding to perform a significant number of these procedures on Oklahoma Native Americans. Since funding is not available to her at this time, and since her insurance will not pay for the surgery, Diane’s family, church, and community are rallying around to raise the funds for this procedure. For more information, see http://www.buffalowalkingwoman.com

- Virginia Giglio, Ph.D.