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Diabetes-Related Kidney Failure Increasing among American Indians and Alaska Natives — October 26 , 2000

Kidney failure resulting from diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate among American Indians and Alaska Natives, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

According to the study conducted jointly by CDC and the Indian Health Service (IHS), the total number of American Indians and Alaska Natives with diabetes who began treatment for end-stage renal disease almost doubled between 1990 and 1996 from 394 to 719. A large share (57 percent) of those cases occurred among women. Reasons for the increase need further research; however, possible factors include an increased prevalence of diabetes in Native American populations and increased prevalence of risk factors for end-stage renal disease such as duration of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperglycemia.

"End-stage renal disease is a devastating complication of diabetes leading to painful and costly dialysis and frequently to kidney transplantation," said Dr. Frank Vinicor, director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation. "Diabetes accounts for more than 60 percent of new cases of end-stage renal disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives," Vinicor said.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and affects Native American adults at nearly three times the rate of non-Hispanic white adults aged 20 and older.

Approximately 9 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native adults have diagnosed diabetes. From 1990-1996, the rate of Native Americans with diabetes who began treatment for end-stage renal disease increased by 24 percent to about 580 per 100,000 compared with about 380 per 100,000 people in the general population with diabetes.

Although the incidence of treatment for diabetes-related end-stage renal disease increased in all age groups during the 7-year period examined, the largest increase was among those aged 45 and younger (58 percent). Among those aged 45-64, incidence increased 9 percent, and among those 65 and older, the increase was 34 percent.

"Because more and more young people are developing diabetes, we need to focus our efforts on preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes to reduce the incidence of diabetic renal disease," said Dr. Kelly J. Acton, director of the Indian Health Service Diabetes Program.

Studies have shown that, with aggressive blood sugar and hypertension control, renal disease in persons with diabetes can be prevented.

To obtain a copy of this report, call the CDC communications office at the number above or visit the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov.

For information on diabetes among American Indian and Alaska Natives call toll free 1-800-CDC-INFO
1-888-232-6348 TTY ( 1-800-CDC-INFO
1-888-232-6348 TTY ) or visit the following: /diabetes/projects/diabetes-wellness.htm or http://www.ihs.gov or http://www.niddk.nih.gov

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