Diabetes and Latin Americans

Approximately 41 million of the US population are Latin American. Nearly every 7 men in the US Latin Americans are the second largest group and the fastest growing population in the US The US Centers for Disease Control report that 1.5 million Latin Americans have diabetes and nearly 5.4 million people in the US have diabetes and don’t know it.

Minorities are even more in danger. Compared to Caucasians, African Americans are 60% more likely to have diabetes, Latin Americans are 90% more likely to have diabetes than Caucasians.

The main reason for type 2 diabetes is fatness. The problem of fatness is not only seen in adults but also in children. Marion Nestle says: “Obesity is growing mainly in children and young people, even more so in African Americans and Latin Americans.”

Most of the population knows how to avoid diabetes with regular exercise and diet. Studies from 1988 to 1994 showed that 65% of Mexican American men and 74% of Mexican American women never exercise.

Lack of exercise is the main reason for the high percentage of diabetes among Mexican Americans. Genes are often blamed for obesity, but the main reason is lack of exercise.

But why are Latin Americans more likely to have diabetes than Caucasians? The Hispanic population is not the only one in the US that suffers from obesity, which is the main cause of diabetes. Other factors such as genetics can even multiply the possibility. The NDIC reports that Mexican Americans whose parents have diabetes are twice as likely to have diabetes as those whose parents do not have diabetes.

Dr. Robert H. Lebow, author of Health Care Meltdown, describes the story of a young Latin American woman, Anne, who visited a doctor for stomach cramps and constipation. Her only physical activity was school exercise twice a week. When she is at home she watches a lot of television and her diet includes a lot of sweets and sugary non-alcoholic drinks. Her friend from her school, Marjorie, is 9 years old and in fourth grade. The only exercise of hers is also the school exercise twice a week. She eats a lot of sweets and watches a lot of TV. Her mother contracted diabetes when she was 35 years old. She worries that Marjorie will meet the same fate.

There is a high possibility that Marjorie has diabetes. She is already overweight, she doesn’t exercise and her diet is bad. She will continue to transmit her bad habits to her children. This type of circle is more common among Latin Americans than among Caucasians.

Dr. Zorba Paster, author of The Longetivity Code, says that the cause of diabetes has to be social injustice. Racial intolerance towards Mexican Americans revolves around poverty, low education and that means they suffer more problems and die sooner.

Paster also says that non-Caucasian life expectancy is lower by 5 years and diabetes is the main reason.

We Latin Americans have to know what diabetes is, what is the cause and how to avoid it.

And what do the experts say?

Doctors in the US lose more patients to diabetes than diagnose them. (Life Extension, page 652).

Not only diabetes but also heart, bone, and other endocrine and metabolic diseases kill more Mexican Americans than Caucasians. (Fat Land, Greg Critser, page 75).

African Americans, Latin Americans, and Native Americans have higher risks of getting diabetes than Caucasians. It is related to being overweight and sometimes genetics. (Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, Robert C. Atkins MD, page 275).

From 16 to 26% of Latin Americans and African Americans between 45-74 years old have diabetes and only 12% of Caucasians of the same age. (Fat Land, Greg Critser, page 10).