Diabetes and Death

Native News Network Staff in Native Health. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – With American Indians and Alaska Natives two to three times more likely to have diabetes than their Caucasian counterparts, a new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is welcomed news.

Diabetes Care

More people have diabetes now than ever before. People with diabetes often have other health risk factors, like obesity and high blood pressure.

But data from the National Health Interview Survey shows that death rates are declining in both men and women with diabetes.

Dr. Edward Gregg is with the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“From the time period of 1997 to 2006, death rates for any cause and for cardiovascular disease in particular declined in people with diabetes.”

Those with diabetes can prevent their risk of cardiovascular disease by maintaining a healthy weight, healthy cholesterol levels, and by not smoking.

The study in the journal Diabetes Care was supported by CDC and the National Institutes of Health.

posted August 21, 2012 7:00 am edt