Diabetes Among Hispanics

All Are Not Equal - Seite 3

Among HCHS/SOL participants, only 21 percent of men and 14 percent of women had no cardiometabolic abnormalities, whereas 34 percent of men and 36 percent of women had three or more cardiometabolic abnormalities.

"It is remarkable that in women in the HCHS/SOL, abdominal adiposity is the factor that accounts for most to the high frequency of these metabolic abnormalities," said Gerardo Heiss, MD, Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "Among the men several factors, such as high blood pressure or impairments in lipid or glucose metabolism, contributed to the high frequency of the metabolic syndrome."

To reach author Gerardo Heiss, MD, Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, email [e-mail].

In addition to providing critical new data, the HCHS/SOL can lead to better-informed treatment and prevention programs for ethnic groups that are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes, suggest the authors of the commentary accompanying the studies.

"The HCHS/SOL study provides an important model for how to decompose the heterogeneous burden of chronic diseases among other racial/ethnic groups (e.g., African/African Americans and Asian/Asian Americans)," the authors concluded. "Future studies will be needed to further explore the complex social determinants of health faced by racial/ethnic minorities."

To reach commentary author Lenny Lopez, MD, Senior Faculty, Disparity Solutions Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Physician, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, email [e-mail].

Job Strain Increases Diabetes Risk

Few studies have looked at the association between work-related stress and the risk for type 2 diabetes. This analysis of 125,000 European adults found a 1.15-fold increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes among both men and women undergoing work-related stress, independent of other unhealthy lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and heavy alcohol use.

Job strain was measured using self-reported questionnaires that looked at workload, conflicting demands, time demands, the freedom to make decisions and the ability to learn new things on the job.

Further study is required to determine whether stress management would provide a possible means for reducing the risk for type 2 diabetes.

To reach the authors: Solja T. Nyberg, [e-mail], MSc, Senior Researcher, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland, and Mika Kivimaki, PhD, Professor of Social Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK, email [e-mail]

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

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