Minority Women's Health

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Diabetes

Minority Women's Health > Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians > Health Topics > Diabetes

You can get diabetes if your body does not use insulin correctly. Insulin in your body changes the sugars in food into energy. Type 1 diabetes happens when your body destroys its own cells that make insulin. Type 2 diabetes happens when your body doesn't make enough insulin. Diabetes affects women of all ages.

People with diabetes are more likely to have problems with their skin, mouth, kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and feet. Diabetes is a growing problem for Asian American/Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians. It is the fifth leading cause of death in the Asian American/Pacific Islander population. There is not a lot of data on the total number of diabetes cases in Asian American/Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian populations. Some groups within these populations are at increased risk for diabetes. Native Hawaiians, Japanese, and Filipino adults living in Hawaii were about two times more likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes as compared to white residents.

Although type 1 diabetes can't be prevented, there are steps you can take to prevent and control type 2 diabetes:

• See your doctor regularly. Don't forget about the dentist and eye doctor!
• If you smoke, try to quit. Quitting is hard, but there are programs that can help.
• Control your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, your blood pressure, and your weight.
• Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, walk during breaks at work.
• Check your feet every day for blisters, red spots, swelling, or cuts.
• Stay aware of how you feel. If you notice a problem, call your doctor right away.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. This type of diabetes occurs in about 1 in 20 pregnancies. During pregnancy your body makes hormones that keep insulin from doing its job. To make up for this, your body makes extra insulin. But in some women this extra insulin is not enough, so they get gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually goes away when the pregnancy is over. Still, women who have had gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Publications

1.   Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? — This booklet defines diabetes and reviews the signs and symptoms of the disease. It discusses the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and the ways it can be prevented.

   http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/riskfortype2/index.htm

2.   Asian American Health — Diabetes — This Web site links to several different pages with information on diabetes in Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians.

   http://asianamericanhealth.nlm.nih.gov/chronic05.html

3.   Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Diabetes — Diabetes mellitus poses a rapidly growing health challenge to Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians in the United States. This publication provides information and statistics on the risks and complications associated with diabetes.

   http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/asianamerican/index.htm

4.   Diabetes Overview — This fact sheet explains the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It explains how type 2 — the most common kind — is diagnosed, and how it is managed. The fact sheet also provides information on the scope, impact, and cost of diabetes, as well as research currently underway.

   http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/overview/index.htm

5.   Fact Sheet — Diabetes — This fact sheet discusses the risk factors, signs, symptoms, and treatments for diabetes in women.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/diabetes.cfm

6.   Take Care of Your Heart. Manage Your Diabetes. — The National Diabetes Education Program's "Take Care of Your Heart" campaign encourages Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians with diabetes to take steps now to reduce their risk of heart attacks or strokes, the leading killers of people with diabetes. The campaign also focuses on the importance of family support. Through this site, you can access different Asian-language versions of this campaign.

   http://ndep.nih.gov/publications/PublicationDetail.aspx?PubId=127

7.     Tips to Help You Stay Healthy — This booklet provides an action plan for diabetes control that includes tips on controlling blood glucose levels. Being proactive can help prevent or delay diabetes complications and help you to feel your best.

   http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/TipsFeel_Eng.pdf

8.     Two Reasons I Find Time to Prevent Diabetes: My Future and Theirs — Overweight or obese Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians are at risk for diabetes. This tip sheet explains the risk and gives small steps that can help prevent diabetes or prediabetes.

   http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/Tworeasons_tips_eng.pdf

9.   Two Reasons I Find Time to Prevent Diabetes: My Future and Theirs (Chinese) — Overweight or obese Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians are at risk for diabetes. This tip sheet explains the risk and gives small steps that can help prevent diabetes or prediabetes.

   http://ndep.nih.gov/publications/PublicationDetail.aspx?PubId=79

10. Asian American Diabetes Initiative (Copyright © Joslin Diabetes Center) — This is a bilingual (English-Chinese) site with interactive tools dedicated to improving diabetes awareness and management in Asian American populations.

    http://aadi.joslin.harvard.edu/

11. Diabetes Risk Test (Copyright © American Diabetes Association) — This interactive tool can help you determine your risk of diabetes. It includes information on prevention, how to cope, and more.

    http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp

12. Why Do People of Asian Descent Get Diabetes? (Copyright © Joslin Diabetes Center) — This publication attributes the higher rates of diabetes in Asian-Americans to a combination of environment, excessive weight gain, diet, and genetic factors.

    http://aadi.joslin.harvard.edu/intro/intro_why_asian.asp

Organizations

1.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, HHS
2.   National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, HHS
3.   Office of Minority and Women's Health, CDC, HHS
4.   Office of Minority Health, OPHS, OS, HHS
5. American Diabetes Association
6. Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
7. National Asian Women's Health Organization

= Indicates Federal Resources

Resources reviewed March 2008.