The findings appear in today's Journal of the American Medical Association. They aren't surprising since overweight people get more diabetes, said Dr. Richey Sharrett, a scientific adviser at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which helped fund the study. But Sharrett said the study could have significant implications because it shows that factors that people can do something about play such a big role. Similarly, Kao said the findings underscore the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle as a way to prevent diabetes. About 14 million Americans have adult-onset, or type 2 diabetes, in which the body can't make enough or properly use insulin, a hormone that processes blood sugar.
Diabetes can lead to kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage.
Most of the 2.3 million blacks with diabetes have the adult-onset form. Good diet, exercise and weight loss can help improve the body's use of insulin and is usually recommended in adult-onset diabetics. Copyright 2000 Belo Interactive Inc., All Rights Reserved.