Resource Centers
By Todd Zwillich
WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) Oct 14 - Officials from the VHA Health Foundation announced Monday a plan aimed at stemming rising diabetes rates in Hispanic and American Indian children.
The initiative is designed to spread awareness about type 2 diabetes through schools with large Hispanic and American Indian populations. The plan will be administered through hospitals and community health centers belonging to the VHA, Inc. hospital network.
The plan targets 25 schools in 23 cities around the country with student and family diabetes awareness manuals, nutrition counseling, and physician referrals for children with diabetes risk factors. Planners hope to reach as many as 10,000 children and adolescents with the program, said Daniel P. Borque, the foundation's president.
The education effort is being funded with a grant of approximately $250,000 from Novartis, AG, which sells nateglinide under the brand name Starlix.
Nearly 11% of Hispanics and 15% of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives are now thought to have type 2 diabetes, versus a 6.2% national average, according to figures from the American Diabetes Association.
One recent study found a 68% increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in American Indian and Alaskan native adolescents between 1990 and 1998, said Michel Lincoln, the deputy director of the Indian Health Service at the US Department of Health and Human Services.
"A little over 40 years ago there were no diagnosed cases of diabetes in Indian country," he told reporters.
Rising diabetes rates during the last decade are blamed on inflationary rates of obesity, which now affects as much as a third of the US population. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson told reporters at today's launch that he plans to host a meeting Tuesday with executives from the fast food industry in an effort to encourage them to add "healthier choices" to their menus.
"It's going to be controversial, but it's something we have to do in America," Thompson said.
Reuters Health Information 2002. © 2002 Reuters Ltd.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
|
|
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.