Contact:

Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 505-277-5915

October 30, 2001

ENGINEER/DIABETES ADVOCATE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY

Gallup native and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Engineer Sandra Begay-Campbell will explain how solar energy can help prevent diabetes among American Indians in a presentation to students in the University of New Mexico-Gallup Introduction to Natural Science class on Friday, Nov. 9 from 4-7 p.m., UNM-Gallup Auditorium.

Begay-Campbell is on a personal crusade to prevent diabetes among rural Native Americans.

"I try to be an advocate as much as I can. American Indians don't know that the disease is at epidemic proportions," she says. "Talk to an American Indian, ask them if they know a diabetic, and they will all say yes."

Diabetes claimed the life of Cecilia Damon Begay, Begay-Campbell's mother. As one of the 12.3 percent of American Indians over the age of 19 battling the deadly disease, Begay-Campbell began a strict dietary regime after she, too, was diagnosed with type II diabetes. She dropped 20 pounds and continues to run three times a week for 30 minutes.

"I run to eat," she says, adding that she uses a heart monitor, available at local sporting goods stores, to check and regulate her heart rate.

"I'm an engineer. I need data," she says.

Recently she set her sights on developing solar refrigeration to improve nutrition for those who live on the far reaches of the reservation without electricity. She wants to launch a study to see if behavioral changes occur among Native Americans with access to fresh foods.

Begay-Campbell, whose mother was an early Native American pioneer from the University of New Mexico nursing program, says a change in diet and exercise are keys to controlling the disease.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the rate of kidney failure among Native Americans with diabetes is six times higher than the general population. Amputation rates among Native Americans are three to four times higher.

"People with diabetes can reduce their risk for complications if they are educated about the disease, learn and practice the skills necessary to better control their blood sugar levels and receive regular checkups from their health care team," the report states.

"The diet and exercise regime is the hardest thing to learn, but now I must take some medication," Begay-Campbell says. "My liver puts out sugar overnight so I take one glucophage pill every evening. I felt a little defeated having to take the drugs, but my doctor says this is typical progression of the disease. It starts to affect different organs. I want to live for a long time, so I take the medication to help fight this disease."

Begay-Campbell graduated from Rehoboth Christian School in Gallup. She assists the school's board with strategic planning and frequently speaks to students. Sherecently talked to students for the Teach for the America Program at Fort Wingate High School.

Appointed by Governor Gary Johnson to the UNM Board of Regents earlier this year, she attended UNM-Gallup for two years before transferring to main campus to complete a civil engineering degree in 1987. She earned her master's in structural engineering from Stanford University. Former executive director of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Begay-Campbell is a recipient of the Governor's Award for Outstanding Women.

As coordinator of the SNL Native American Renewable Energy Program, she manages technical requests resulting from the recently signed Navajo Nation, SNL and Department of Energy Memorandum of Understanding.

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