THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 6, 1996 TAG: 9602060320
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Black Americans appear to have a genetic predisposition to diabetes that may be triggered by obesity or other health habits - but simple lifestyle changes could lower the risk, diabetes experts said Monday.
``This is a problem we can beat and it's time to begin,'' said Dr. James Gavin as he unveiled the American Diabetes Association's African-American Program.
The $500,000 education campaign will cover how to prevent and control diabetes, a disease in which the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't use the hormone properly.
Insulin carries sugar from digested food into cells.
Black Americans are twice as likely as whites to get diabetes. At least 3 million blacks have it, although many more are thought to be undiagnosed. Black women particularly are vulnerable - one in four over age 55 has diabetes.
And black diabetics suffer more complications than whites with the disease. They are about twice as likely to go blind or have a limb amputated, and up to six times more likely to suffer kidney disease.
Nobody really knows why. But Dr. Kwame Osei of Ohio State University said Monday that he has uncovered symptoms of a genetic predisposition to diabetes.
Osei studied 80 black Americans, 60 whites and 32 recent African immigrants for three years. All were healthy, with normal blood sugar levels.
The black Americans and African immigrants produced twice as much insulin as the whites - and their insulin worked only half as well, Osei found.
Yet only 1 percent of Africans have diabetes, while 12 percent of black Americans do, Osei said.
Osei thinks obesity, a proven diabetes risk, could be the difference. He cited studies showing 10 percent of Africans are overweight, compared with 30 percent of white Americans and 40 percent of black Americans.
The ADA's African-American Program will emphasize losing weight and exercising as ways to prevent or control diabetes. ILLUSTRATION: DIABETES TIPS
Ways to lessen the risk of diabetes:
1. Exercise regularly.
2. Avoid fat in diet.
3. Avoid smoking.
4. Watch your weight.
5. Find out family history of diabetes.
Source: The American Diabetes Association.
KEYWORDS: STUDY DIABETES BLACKS by CNB