South Eastern Michigan Indians

08/31/2026

🚭 You don't have to smoke to be affected by cigarette smoke.

According to the CDC, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief exposure can cause harmful health effects.

For adults who don't smoke, secondhand smoke can contribute to heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. For children, exposure can contribute to respiratory & ear infections, and asthma attacks. It can also increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies.

🏠 Keeping homes, vehicles, and shared spaces smoke-free helps protect everyone, especially children, Elders, and others who may be more vulnerable.

🔎 Learn more from the CDC:
www.cdc.gov/to***co/secondhand-smoke/health.html

***co ***coPrevention

Learn how exposure to secondhand smoke can harm your health.

08/30/2026

🩺🚭 Commercial to***co use and diabetes are more connected than many people realize.

According to Indian Health Service, to***co use can raise the already elevated risk of health complications for people living with diabetes. This includes ci******es, chewing to***co, e-ci******es, and vapes.

For people with diabetes, protecting your health also means understanding how commercial to***co and ni****ne use can affect your overall well-being.

🌿 Prevention, education, and access to culturally relevant resources can make a difference.

🔎 Learn more about to***co, e-cigarette use, and diabetes from Indian Health Service:

https://www.ihs.gov/diabetes/clinician-resources/soc/to***co-use1/

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The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally-recognized Tribes grew out of the special government-to...

08/30/2026

08/30/2026

🚬 Ci**rs aren't a safer alternative to ci******es.

Ci**rs, cigarillos, and little ci**rs contain ni****ne, which is highly addictive. Cigar smoke also contains the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke.

According to the CDC, cigar smoking can cause lung cancer and increase the risk of cancers of the mouth and throat. It can also increase the risk of gum disease and tooth loss. These risks are still present even for people who don't inhale cigar smoke.

⚠️ A different product doesn't mean it's harmless.

🔎 Learn more about ci**rs and their health effects from the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/to***co/other-to***co-products/ci**rs.html

**rsmoker *******OS ***co ***coPrevention

Get the facts about ci**rs, their health effects, preventing use, and how to help people quit.

08/30/2026

🩺 Not all diabetes is the same.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes both affect blood sugar, but they are different conditions.

The Indian Health Service reports that the vast majority of American Indian and Alaska Native people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. However, Type 1 diabetes can occur in Native people too, including children.

Understanding the differences matters. Knowing the signs, getting tested, and talking with a health care provider can help ensure people receive the appropriate diagnosis and care. ❤️

🔎 Learn more from Indian Health Service:
www.ihs.gov/diabetes/clinician-resources/soc/distinguishing-dm1/

While the vast majority of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients with diabetes have type 2, type 1 diabetes and its variants do occur in AI/AN patients, particularly those of mixed heritage. Type 1 diabetes must be considered in patients of any age or weight who present with a new onset...

08/30/2026

🦶 Diabetes can affect your feet, even before you notice something is wrong.

Over time, diabetes can damage nerves and affect sensation in the feet. That means cuts, sores, or other injuries may be harder to notice and can become more serious if left untreated.

Regular foot checks are an important part of diabetes care. Indian Health Service provides diabetes foot-care resources specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

❤️ Check your feet regularly, and talk with your health care provider about including a foot exam as part of your diabetes care.

https://www.ihs.gov/diabetes/clinician-resources/soc/foot-care1/

People who have diabetes are at high risk for nerve and vascular damage that can result in loss of protective sensation in the feet, reduced circulation, and poor healing. Foot ulcers and amputations, due to diabetic neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), are common and preventable causes of...

08/28/2026

🚫 Smokeless doesn't mean harmless.

Chewing to***co, dip, s***f, and other smokeless to***co products contain addictive ni****ne and can cause serious health problems.

According to the CDC, smokeless to***co can cause cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and pancreas. It can also contribute to gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss.

🦷 Just because a to***co product isn't smoked doesn't mean it's safe. Understanding the risks of different commercial to***co products is an important part of protecting your health.

🔎 Learn more about the health effects of smokeless to***co from the CDC:

www.cdc.gov/to***co/other-to***co-products/smokeless-to***co-health-effects.html

***co ***co ***coPrevention

Find out about the health effects of smokeless to***co products.

08/28/2026

🩺 Did you know diabetes can affect your kidneys?

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, and about 1 in 3 adults with diabetes has kidney disease. High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys over time, making it harder for them to filter your blood.

Kidney disease often has no symptoms in its early stages, which makes regular screening especially important. ❤️

If you have Type 2 diabetes, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends getting tested for kidney disease every year.

🔎 Learn more about diabetes and kidney health:

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-kidney-disease

Learn about diabetic kidney disease (DKD), who is at risk, how to keep your kidneys healthy, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and what to do if you have DKD.

08/28/2026

⚠️ They're small, discreet, and often flavored, but ni****ne pouches aren't harmless.

Ni****ne pouches are placed between the lip and gum, where ni****ne is absorbed through the mouth. Some products may be marketed as “to***co-free,” but they can still contain highly addictive ni****ne.

Ni****ne can be especially harmful to youth and young adults because the brain continues developing until about age 25. Scientists are also still learning about the long-term health effects of ni****ne pouches.

Knowing what these newer products are is an important part of preventing ni****ne addiction, especially among young people.

🔎 Learn more about ni****ne pouches from the CDC:

https://www.cdc.gov/to***co/ni****ne-pouches/index.html

****nepouches ****neAwareness ***coPrevention

08/28/2026

👁️ Diabetes doesn't only affect blood sugar. It can affect your vision, too.

Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the eyes and lead to diabetic retinopathy. According to the Indian Health Service, about 20% of American Indian and Alaska Native people with diabetes are estimated to have diabetic retinopathy or macular edema.

The important part? Diabetic eye disease often has no early warning signs. Regular eye exams can help find problems before serious vision loss occurs.

🩺 If you have diabetes, taking care of your eyes is part of taking care of your overall health.

🔎 Learn more from Indian Health Service:

www.ihs.gov/diabetes/clinician-resources/soc/eye-care1/

People with diabetes are at lifelong risk for eye and vision problems, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and blindness. Good control of glucose and blood pressure helps to prevent onset and reduce progression of diabetic retinopathy. In addition,....