Staying Well

Diabetes is on the rise among African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders. Why is that?Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body's inability to produce any or enough insulin causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood.This disease is on the rise throughout the nation. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million adults and children in the U.S. have diabetes which accounts for 8.3 percent of the population. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.Another statistic? Minorities are more likely than Caucasians to develop diabetes.What makes minorities more at risk for this disease?Diabetes can run in your family, which increases your risk of developing the disease. Beyond genetics, there are also cultural attitudes and socioeconomic factors that can play a role in the growing epidemic.For instance, every culture has different takes on what comfort food is. These foods are passed down from generation to generation, even though they may