Diabetes for Asian American Population

The Asian-American population faces a heightened risk of diabetes than Caucasians. Increasingly, these cases are undiagnosed because the first warning sign, obesity, is not typically found in Asian Americans. Most of these cases of diabetes are diagnosed after one or more complications have occurred.

Asian American Population and Obesity

Nearly all Asians are not obese, so they have no premature warning sign until their vision blurs, they are urinating often, or are thirsty all the time. The difference may be where they bear their excess fat. An “apple” shape has an augmented risk factor in developing diabetes, and this is where Asians carry their overload fat.

Obesity increased over 80 percent in the public, and diabetes increased by 50 percent. On the contrary, only four percent of the Asian-American population is obese, but diabetes percentages were higher.

Language Divide for Asian American Population

One cause of undiagnosed diabetes in this group is the language divide. Those patients with a language difficulty were not controlling the disease with others. Researchers guess that ten percent of Asian Americans have diabetes.

The language barrier and failure to understand the disease or how to control it, is a contributing cause for uncontrolled diabetes. It is vital to bridge the education gap so they can realize the medications they are put on, and the testing method for blood glucose monitoring. Often, even with a translator there is complexity in understanding the medical terms and testing methods.

Programs and Educational Seminars

Many times, the programs and educational seminars they attended are geared to the Western world. When diets are discussed, they often do not comprise those foods that Asian Americans have in their diets. In the Asian culture, people do not share what they consider inappropriate. Most will not talk about their health unless they are questioned.

For example, a recent program intended for Asian American began with a short talk about the premature signs of diabetes, blood sugar levels, and diets. When presented with a typical meal served on a plate, the participants agreed the food was not what they usually ate.

Translators for Asian American Population

An educational bridge must be built so the minorities in our population are capable to understand not only diabetes, but also many other health associated topics. Translators often can’t convert our Western words and terms so other minorities can understand them. Their hesitation to discuss personal health with doctors or family members also hides the diagnosis if diabetes and other life threatening diseases.

Family Members of Asian American Population

Family members play a significant part in watching for signs of diabetes. Talking to parents, aunts and uncles, and older siblings assist help in controlling the rising increase of diabetes in our Asian-American population. An educated minority population would minimize the risk of undiagnosed diabetes. Checking for symptoms, talking about their health, and making doctor appointments for them is a good start.

Several states are setting up informational seminars to address the problem of language barriers and health. Information will be given in English and their resident language. There is hope this will allow more information to be given to those who are most susceptible.

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