Pacific Islanders, American Indians are most predisposed to diabetes

 The Diabetes Prevention and Control Program said that Pacific Islanders, which includes Chamorros and Carolinians of the CNMI, are people most predisposed to diabetes.

Program manager Grace L. Tenorio said that Pacific Islanders and American Indians have the highest percentage of elevated blood sugar relative to population in her remarks during yesterday’s proclamation signing to designate November as Diabetes Prevention & Awareness Month.

“The percentage is 30 percent that have an elevated blood sugar. Meaning they’re pre-diabetic, borderline diabetic, or have diabetes. Going along with World Diabetes Day, we in the Pacific along with American Indians have the highest diabetes rate in the U.S. The U.S. then has the highest diabetes rate in the world. That means we have the highest diabetes in the world-the Pacific Islands, American Samoa, and the American Indian population,” she said at the proclamation signing held at the Governor’s Office conference room on Capital Hill.

Tenorio said in the U.S., only 10 percent of the population has an elevated blood sugar.

She said the epidemic of diabetes in the Pacific is caused by lifestyle changes, adding that prior to the war, she was told that there was no diabetes in the Pacific.

“Why? They were eating off of the land, having fish, they had a healthy lifestyle. Look at the pictures of people from before the war, they were slim. They-our ancestors-were actually practicing prevention without knowing it.”

Backing Tenorio’s call to combat non-communicable disease are latest statistics, which show that 141 new cases of diabetes were reported at the Commonwealth Health Center in 2010-boosting the total of diabetes patients diagnosed with the illness to 949.

Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos, who signed for Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, said like tourism, “diabetes prevention is also everybody’s business”

“I call upon all citizens to put their health first throughout their lives and embrace a simpler and healthier lifestyle. I also call upon the CNMI’s private institutions to aid in the prevention of diabetes by promoting and making healthy goods and services accessible and affordable to all citizens,” said Inos.

He also encouraged the community to take part in CNMI Diabetes Day set for Nov. 14, from 4pm to 6pm at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field.

Diabetes coalition member John Gonzales, who read the proclamation, said one factor contributing to the diabetes epidemic is that “most of our consumable goods are imported because it’s a matter of convenience.”

Meanwhile, Coalition for Anti-stigma of Mental Illness’ Kaye Christian said she recently observed that diabetics taking insulin no longer need to take it if they go on an all-raw diet. In addition, “if they exercise, they don’t need to go on dialysis anymore,” she said.