HEALTHCARE
Diabetes and Kidney Disease in Hispanic Americans: Ten Things to Know
creases their chances of developing serious complications such as chronic kidney disease, heart disease and strokes. However, when individuals with diabetes follow their treatment plan carefully and keep their blood sugar and blood pressure under control, they can great- ly reduce their risk of developing these complications.
D of diabetes in Hispanic Americans are undiagnosed.
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of those 50 or older have diabetes.
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age 20, and is always treated with insulin injections.
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Studies have shown that early detection and treatment can halt or slow the progression of diabetic kidney
disease. Treatment includes careful control of blood sugar and blood pressure. Special high blood pressure medications called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) help to preserve kidney function.
When someone loses 85 percent or more of his or her kidney function, dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant are required to sustain life.
44 HISPANIC NETWORK MAGAZINE Celebrating 19 Years of Diversity
About 90 to 95 percent of Hispanic Americans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes
usually develops in adults over 45, but is becoming more common in younger people. It occurs because the body is unable to use insulin properly and is treated with diet, exercise, diabetes pills and, sometimes, insulin injections.
About five percent of Hispanic Americans with diabetes have type 1 diabetes, which usually develops before
On the average, Hispanic Americans are nearly twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar
age. The prevalence of diabetes in Cuban Americans is lower than in Mexican American and Puerto Rican adults, but still higher than that of non-Hispanic whites.
Diabetes is even more common among middle-aged and older Hispanic Americans. About 25 to 30 percent
About 11 percent or 5 million of the 47 million Hispanic Americans have diabetes. About one-third of the cases
iabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the single leading cause of kidney failure in adults. Hispanic Americans have a high rate of diabetes, which in-
8 Diabetes can be diagnosed by:
—Hemoglobin A1C equal to or greater than 6.5% —Fasting blood glucose test of 126 or greater
—Nonfasting blood glucose test of 200 or greater in people who have symptoms of diabetes
—Abnormal oral glucose tolerance test with two-hour glucose of 200 or greater. —Positive test should be confirmed on another day, using any of these tests.
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The risk factors for diabetes include:
—Family history of diabetes —Obesity
—Physical inactivity —Unbalanced diet
Since diabetes is the leading cause
of kidney disease in the U.S., Hispanic Americans have increased risk for developing diabetes and kidney disease. The following are tests for early
detection of kidney disease: —Blood pressure measurement —Urine test for protein —Blood test to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a measure of kidney function
For more information on kidneys and kid- ney disease, visit
www.kidney.org
Sources of Facts and Statistics: “Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease,” National Kidney Foundation (
www.kidney.org) “Diabetes in Hispanic Americans,” National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease.
www.hnmagazine.com
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