Older Mexican Americans at higher risk of diabetes

The rate of type 2 diabetes among Mexican Americans has doubled since 1993, according to new research reported in the journal Diabetes Care.

The diabetes-related complications have been on the rise in the U.S. population, but not among Mexican American aged 75 and older, Dr. Holly A. Beard of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston was cited by Reuters as saying.

Mexican Americans are known to be at higher risk of diabetes and diabetes complications compared to non-Hispanic whites.

Dr. Beard looked at data collected between 1993 and 1994 from 1,132 Mexican Americans aged 75 and older in the southwestern United States and 902 men and women between 2004 and 2005.

An earlier survey showed 20 percent were obese, 37 percent had high blood pressure while the current study found 29 percent were obese and 57 percent had high blood pressure.

The rates of diabetes complications such as kidney disease and vision impairment were the same although diabetics in the recent survey were at greater risk of disability.

Diabetes affects an estimated 20 million Americans.