In the text "Bad Sugar," we learn that the Pima are a tribe of Native Americans who have extremely high levels of diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes among them is as high as 50%. They refer to this as "bad sugar."
Dr. Don Wayne argues that part of the reason for this is the stress and the poverty that results from their social situation. Stress can cause chemicals such as cortisol, epinephrine and adrenaline, which cause sugar to rise and lead to a built up of glucose. It can also be linked to the food that they receive from the government. However, in recent years, the Pima have been able to regain some control over their land, particularly over the water of the Gila river thanks to the Arizona Water Settlements Act of 2004. This accomplishment has allowed the Pima to have more availability of resources, more successful agriculture and a stronger sense of community. All of these factors might help the Pima improve their health, and more importantly, prevent new cases of diabetes.
