Ethnicity Alters Diabetes Risks
Squaring the Numbers
What do all those numbers mean? Here's what the researchers found when they took a closer look at the data.
Asians had the lowest average BMI. But they had the steepest rise in diabetes risk of any ethnic group if they gained weight after age 18.
"Weight gain is particularly detrimental for Asians," the researchers write. They suggest "lower cutoff BMI values are needed to identify Asians at a higher risk of diabetes."
Meanwhile, blacks had the highest average BMI. But BMI seemed to have less impact on diabetes risk for them than it did for whites, according to the study.
Still, "In conclusion, after accounting for BMI, our study indicates that Asians, Hispanics, and blacks were all at higher risk for type 2 diabetes than whites," the researchers write.
Healthy Diet Helps
The diet surveys added more clues.
Healthy diets -- those that emphasized fiber and unsaturated fats while minimizing trans fats and items that spike blood sugar -- apparently cut diabetes risk more for blacks, Hispanics, and Asians than for whites.
"These results suggest that dietary intervention may be particularly effective for diabetes prevention among minorities, although this hypothesis needs to be tested in future studies," Shai's team writes.
The researchers note two limits to their study: The nurses might not have reported their information perfectly, and they may not represent all women in their age group.
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
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