MCN Health Celebrates 20th Annual Diabetes Awareness Summit
TULSA, OK — The Muscogee Nation Department of Health (MCN Health) celebrated two decades of diabetes education, prevention and wellness Thursday during its 20th Annual Diabetes Awareness Summit at River Spirit Casino Resort.
The annual event brings together patients, health professionals and community members for education, screenings and resources focused on preventing diabetes, managing the disease and reducing the risk of serious complications. The 2026 Summit included health screenings, diabetes risk assessments, foot exams and breakout sessions focused on nutrition, physical activity, and wound care.
This year’s milestone also provided an opportunity to highlight the progress being made across MCN Health. Over the last five years, obesity among patients with diabetes has decreased from 67% to 57%, while severe obesity has dropped from 23% to 15%. During that same period, GLP-1 use increased from 6% to 64%, with more than 10,000 patients with obesity, prediabetes and diabetes now utilizing the therapies.
“For 20 years, this Summit has been about giving our people the knowledge and resources they need to take control of their health,” Secretary of Health Shawn Terry said. “What has changed is the number of tools we now have to help them do that. We are seeing real progress, and we are continuing to lead the way in bringing advanced care to our people.”
A major focus of that continued progress is limb preservation. Dr. Gershon Koshy, interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist, presented “Saving Limbs, Saving Lives,” discussing the connection between diabetes, peripheral artery disease and amputation risk.
“Our goal is to preserve limbs, protect mobility and keep our people healthy and independent,” Koshy said.
The presentation builds on MCN Health’s recently launched Limb Salvage Program, which brings together vascular care, wound care, podiatry and diabetes management to identify patients at risk and intervene before complications progress to amputation.That same approach is also shaping the future of diabetes care at MCN Health. Diabetes rarely exists in isolation. Obesity, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease are closely connected to diabetes and can significantly increase the risk of serious complications.
To address those conditions more comprehensively, MCN Health plans to open a new Diabetes Center for Excellence in February 2027 on the newly renovated fourth floor of Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare. The center will bring a more coordinated approach to diabetes and related conditions, moving beyond glucose management to focus on overall metabolic health, prevention and specialty care.
The Diabetes Center for Excellence represents the next evolution of the diabetes program, moving beyond glucose management toward comprehensive metabolic health, prevention and coordinated specialty care.
Together, the Summit, Limb Salvage Program and future Diabetes Center for Excellence reflect a broader mission to prevent complications earlier, coordinate care more closely and help patients live healthier, more independent lives.
“As we look ahead, we celebrate the historic progress made and commit to building on this work for the health of our people,” Terry said.
Media Contact
Ashtyn Salsman | Communications Manager
918-577-0730 | Ashtyn.Salsman@creekhealth.org
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