Check Your Numbers

Diabetes

Nationally, the American Diabetes Association reports that, in general, about 1 in 11 people have diabetes. Additionally, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders are 2.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes compared to non-Hispanic white Americans.

While being overweight or obese increases diabetes risk for everyone, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders do not have to be overweight to be at risk for diabetes and have an even greater risk for diabetes with increasing weight compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Diabetes risk is associated with low household income, obesity, and lack of physical activity.

There are many resources available to help you with diabetes. Please check out the resources below to help you manage your diabetes or prevent it.

• The Nevada Diabetes Resource Directory includes support groups, classes, specialists, and agencies.
• Diabetes Prevention and Self-Management Classes
• Local Low-cost Clinics
• Sign up for the Road to Diabetes Prevention, the Southern Nevada Health District’s free online diabetes prevention program to delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes
• Find recognized diabetes prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control
• Find diabetes prevention and self-management classes at the Nevada Quality & Technical Assistance Center
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Resources for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
• Search the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Food Hub for Asian Pacific Islander and Hawaiian-inspired recipes.
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Diabetes Resources
• American Heart Association resources
• Find recognized diabetes prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control
• Find diabetes prevention and self-management classes at the Nevada Quality & Technical Assistance Center

High Blood Pressure

1 in 3 Native Hawaiian adults have high blood pressure… and some don’t even know they have it. Hypertension (also referred to as high blood pressure), lack of physical activity, poor diet and obesity are considered major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke are the first and third leading cause of death for Native Hawaiians. Native Hawaiian’s are 1.7 times more likely (70 percent more likely) to die from heart disease than whites and experience some of the highest mortality rates due to CVD, with rates 34 percent higher than the general population.

The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure by your healthcare professional, you should monitor your blood pressure regularly. A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mm Hg.

For more information on High Blood Pressure and how to reduce your risk visit gethealthyclarkcounty.org.