For some time now, researchers have known that Hispanics or people of a Latino background are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic Caucasians.
According to Nutraceuticals World, the top causes of death among Hispanics is diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
Research has recently found that the risk of diabetes among specific ethnic groups can depend on a whole number of factors such as the length of time they have been living in the United States.
Keep on reading to find out why are Hispanics in the US are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a disease in the body where it doesn’t have enough insulin, or it doesn’t use the insulin correctly. Insulin is a hormone that converts sugar in the blood into energy. For people with diabetes, the blood sugar stays in their bloodstream and the cells can’t produce enough energy.
Having excessive sugar in the blood can cause other serious health problems in the body too, such as heart disease, kidney problems, and stroke issues.
Why are Hispanics more likely to develop type 2 diabetes in the US?
There are currently an estimated 50 million Hispanics living in the United States and it is believed that 16.9% of Hispanics have diabetes.
One study found that those of a Mexican descent had a higher risk of diabetes (18.3%), whilst those from South American had a lower risk of diabetes (10.2%). The study also showed that 18.1% of people of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, 17.7% of Central American descent, and 13.4% of Cuban descent living in the US had type 2 diabetes.
A study has found that the longer a person lives in the United States the more likely they are to develop diabetes. Whereas, the more education and income a person has, the less likely they are to develop diabetes.
It is thought that diabetes affects Hispanics due to the low rate of diabetes awareness, diabetes control and health insurance.
Living with diabetes
Diabetes isn’t a curable condition, however there are a number of ways in which you can control the illness. Your doctor will be able to advise you on how to deal with your diabetes, however if you are looking for a few ways to control your diabetes you can try eating healthier and exercising more.
Other ways you can try to control your diabetes is by introducing foods which can help the symptoms of diabetes. For example, did you know that one benefit of eating basil seeds is that it can aid the regulation of blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes?
The thought leaders at ZONASUPLEMENTOS are convinced that there are a variety of supplements that people suffering from type 2 diabetes can implement into their diet to try and help them control their illness. For example, cinnamon can help lower your blood sugar and can help to improve you control diabetes.