By P.C. Staff
According to a new study from the National Institutes of Health and CDC, more than half of Asian Americans with diabetes are undiagnosed, showing the highest proportion of undiagnosed diabetics among all ethnic and racial subgroups that were included in the study. According to researchers, Asian Americans also develop this condition at a lower body mass index (BMI) than the general population.
The average BMI of the United States general public is around 29; the average BMI for Asian Americans is under 25. Despite this, 21 percent of all Asian Americans are affected by diabetes, which is just around 1 in every 5 people. Among the recommended courses of action, the American Diabetes Assn. recommends that Asian Americans get tested for diabetes at a BMI of 23 or higher.
Amy Reiter, spokesperson for the National institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases told the Medical Daily: “The BMI-related research is not new to this study, but this study further illustrates the importance of why clinicians need to pay attention to that. The findings for Asian Americans were particularly novel.” Another study further affirmed the threat that Asians and Asian Americans face in terms of the BMI relation to diabetes. It displayed that “Asians have a much greater predisposition to risk of cardiometabolic disorders than Caucasians.” The study also provided that Asians and Asian Americans need to be self-aware know the risks of having diabetes through their BMI number.
