Diabetes Still Rising Among Native Americans

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- American Indians have the highest incidence of diabetes among racial groups but health officials say there's still time for prevention.<br/><br/>Tribal leaders, health professionals

Thursday, August 24th 2006, 6:23 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- American Indians have the highest incidence of diabetes among racial groups but health officials say there's still time for prevention.

Tribal leaders, health professionals and American Indian health specialists from across the country are attending the 4-day Diabetes Prevention Conference that started Monday in Oklahoma City.

Speakers say studies show that lifestyle changes including diet, exercise and weight loss significantly reduce diabetes risk in all populations.

Experts project that a quarter of all non-Hispanic whites and 50 percent of all people of color born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetimes.

But Doctor Richard Hamman of the University of Colorado's Department of Preventive Medicine says one study suggests that for every 2.2 pounds of weight loss, there is a 16 percent reduction in diabetes risk.

The conference is sponsored by the Indian Health Service and the Oklahoma Native American EXPORT Center.