Diabetes in Asian Indians in the United States

By Mandeep Bajaj, MD

HOUSTON: The American Diabetes Association reports that almost 25.8 million people in the United States, or 8.3 percent of the population, have diabetes. However, the estimated prevalence of type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes in Asian Indians in the United States is higher with estimates between 17% to 29% depending on the age group studied as the prevalence increases with age. While its cause is still unknown, researchers have found that genetics and environmental factors such as sedentary lifestyles play significant roles. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. Obesity reduces the body’s ability to respond to insulin. When yoaur body makes insulin but can’t use it properly, the sugar level in your blood rises above the normal healthy range, resulting in diabetes. High blood sugar levels can cause serious damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves and increase the risk of a

controlling blood sugar levels, making good nutrition a crucial element in preventing diabetes, managing existing diabetes, and preventing or slowing the rate of development of chronic complications.