Know Your Risk

Do you know if you have diabetes? Many people have diabetes and don't know it. When you learn your diabetes risk, you can take action to prevent the disease or reduce its impact on your life.

The SEARHC Diabetes Program offers a full range of health care services for people with diabetes, including diabetes education, nutrition education and visiting medical specialists.

Knowing your diabetes risk is especially important for American Indians and Alaska Natives, who have the highest rate of diabetes among major ethnic groups, more than twice the rate of non-Natives. And the rate is growing.

Many cases of Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, a medical condition that can lead to diabetes, are preventable with healthy eating habits, regular exercise, quitting tobacco and other lifestyle changes. SEARHC offers a 16-week Lifestyle Balance education program for Native adults with prediabetes that teaches them how to prevent diabetes. To learn more about the Lifestyle Balance program, visit their webpage.

Diabetes Services

Primary Prevention Services

  • Primary prevention providers: Health Educators, Community Wellness Advocates
  • At-risk adult health screening in Sitka, Juneau, Angoon, Kake, POW, Haines, Hoonah, other communities per budget & staff availability
  • Pre-diabetes curriculum (Lifestyle Balance program) in Sitka, Kake & Juneau
  • Programs & events: Physical activity & nutrition education in Sitka, Juneau, Angoon, Kake, POW, Haines, Klukwan, and other communities per budget & staff availability

Secondary Prevention Services

  • Secondary prevention providers: Diabetes educators (DE), registered dietitians (RD) at MEH, ELMC, Haines & ARMC
  • Diabetes self-management education: IHS Balancing Your Life & Diabetes Program
  • Diabetes support groups
  • Physical therapy & foot care services
  • Pharmacy
  • Dental services
  • Optometry services
  • Immunization services
  • Social services

Your SEARHC Diabetes Team

  • Administrator: Kathy O'Gara, Director, Health Promotion
  • Medical Consultant: Julien Naylor, M.D. - MEH
  • Department Manager: Maybelle Filler, LCSW
  • Diabetes Educators
    • Jennifer Henderson, R.N. - MEH
    • Robert Meadows, R.N. - ELMC
    • Jody Miller, R.N. & Lisa Schwartz, R.N. - Haines
    • Julie Sturtevant, R.N. - ARMC
  • Dietitians
    • Kelly Whitcomb-Tincher, R.D. & Stefanie Herrington, R.D. - MEH
    • Lisa Fenn, R.D. & Kari Natwick, R.D. - ELMC
    • Janai Meyer, R.D. - ARMC
  • Health Educator: Renae Mathson, Community Health Care Svcs - Health Promotion
  • Community Wellness Advocates
    • Mandy Ramsey - Haines & Klukwan
    • Georginia Davis Gastelum - Kake
    • June May - Alicia Roberts Medical Center, Klawock
  • Dental Services : Benjamin Warren, M.D. - ME
  • Optometry Services
    • Pamela Steffes, O.D. - MEH
    • Shannon Farr, O.D. - ELMC
  • Pharmacy: John Fulton - MEH
  • Physical Therapy Services: Daniel Weaver - ARMC
  • Social Services: Cliff Tincher, L.C.S.W - MEH
  • Lifestyle Balance program
    • Walleen Whitson, Health Educator - Sitka & Kake
    • Kathryn Dennis, Health Educator - Juneau

More Information

Contact Us

Mail to 222 Tongass Drive, Sitka, AK 99835
Tel. 1(907)966-8739
Fax 1(907)966-8707

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