Senior Citizen Information - Health

Approximately 41 million of USA population are Latin Americans. Almost every 7 man in USA. Latin Americans are the second largest group and the fastest growing population in USA. USA disease control centers report 1,5 million Latin Americans have diabetes and almost 5,4 million people in USA have diabetes and they are not aware of it.

Minorities are even more jeopardized. In comparison with Caucasians African Americans have 60% more chance to get diabetes, Latin Americans have 90 % more chance to get diabetes than Caucasian.

The main reason for diabetes type 2 is fatness. Problem of fatness is not seen only at adults but also children. Marion Nestle says: ? Obesity is growing mainly with children and growing youth, even more with African Americans and Latin Americans.?

Majority of population know how to avoid diabetes with regular exercise and a diet. Studies from 1988 to 1994 showed 65 % of Mexican American man and 74 % of Mexican American women never exercise.

The lack of exercise is the main reason of the high percentage of diabetes with Mexican Americans. Lots of times they blame the genes for obesity but the main reason is the lack of exercise.

But why Latin Americans have more chance to get diabetes than Caucasians. Hispanic population is not the only one in USA that suffer from obesity that is the main reason for diabetes. Other factors like genetics can even multiply the chance. NDIC reports that Mexican Americans who's parents have diabetes has twice a chance to get diabetes than those who's parents have not have diabetes.

Dr. Robert H. Lebow the author of Health Care Meltdown describes the story of a young Latin American girl Anne, who visited a doctor because of cramps in her stomach and constipation. Her only physical activity was school exercise two times per week. When she is at home she watches a lot of television and her diet includes a lot of candy and sweetened non-alco drinks. Her school friend Marjorie is 9 and is in fourth grade. Her only exercise is also school exercise twice per week. She eats a lot of candy and watch a lot of television. Her mother got diabetes when she was 35. She is worried Marjorie will have the same destiny.

There is a big chance Marjorie will get diabetes. She is already overweight, she doesn't exercise and her diet is poor. She will continue to pass her bad habits to her children. This kind of circle is more common with Latin Americans than Caucasians.

Dr. Zorba Paster the author of The Longetivity Code says that the cause of diabetes has to be because of the social injustice. Race intolerance to Mexican Americans revolves to poverty, low education and that means they suffer from more problems and die sooner.

Paster also says that non Caucasians life expectancy is lower for 5 years and diabetes is the main reason.

Latin Americans have to get to know what is diabetes, what is the cause of it and how to avoid it.

And what the experts say?

Doctors in USA lose more patients because of diabetes than diagnose them. (Life Extension, page 652).

Not only diabetes but also heart, bone and other endocrine and metabolic diseases kill Mexican Americans more than Caucasians. (Fat Land, Greg Critser, page 75).

African Americans, Latin Americans and American natives have bigger risks in getting diabetes than Caucasians. It is in relation ot overweight and sometimes genetics. (Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution, Robert C. Atkins MD, page 275).

16 to 26 % of Latin Americans and African Americans between 45-74 years of age have diabetes and only 12 % of Caucasians of the same age. (Fat Land, Greg Critser, page 10).