Nontraditional Risk Factors as Mediators of Racial Differences in Diabetes Risk

Excerpt

Diabetes continues to be a growing problem for the old and young, affecting 25.8 million people in the United States; 7 million of whom remain undiagnosed.1 In 2010, nearly 2 million adults (20 years and older) were newly diagnosed with diabetes.1 This phenomenon has been attributed to multiple factors, including genetics, environment, and modifiable risk factors such as obesity, unhealthy diets, and sedentary lifestyles. Compared to whites, African Americans have a 77 % higher risk of diagnosed diabetes, and once diagnosed, are more likely to have poorer outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality.1 Evidence indicates that diabetes can be prevented with the adoption of healthier behaviors (i.e., weight loss, dietary changes, increased physical activity).2 Despite this awareness, ethnic disparities in diabetes risk persist.1 Therefore, substantial interest exists to explain these persistent differences and to design interventions that are effective in bridging the racial divide in risk of diabetes. …