Indians in US 'at higher diabetes risk than other Asian immigrants'

Washington, Sep 23 (ANI): Indians residing in the US are more prone to developing diabetes than whites and immigrants from other Asian countries, a study revealed.

The study found that South Asians, people from India, Bangladesh Nepal and Pakistan, are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than individuals in other Asian countries, consisting of those born in China, the Philippines, North and South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and other nations.

Researchers exercised data from the New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted in 2004, to evaluate different racial and ethnic groups for risk factors relating to heart disease and metabolic disorders such as diabetes.

"In addition to cultural and lifestyle factors, Asians subgroups are also different in terms of their genetic makeup," said lead study author, Swapnil Rajpathak, assistant professor of epidemiology and population health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The researchers found that South Asians had the highest prevalence of diabetes at 35.4 percent, compared with 16.1 percent for all Asians and 10.8 percent for whites.

"Immigrants may experience dramatic changes in their diet and physical activity after moving to this country. Given their higher genetic susceptibility, unfavorable changes in lifestyle factors may increase the risk of diabetes," Rajpathak educated further.

To address the disparity, the American Diabetes Association is planning awareness programs aimed specifically at South Asians.

The findings are published in Ethnicity and Disease journal. (ANI)