Japanese Elderly and Diabetes

Epidemiologists have been putting a particular interest in studying the case of diabetes among Japanese Americans, which interestingly is higher than both white/ Caucasian American and native population in Japan. According to Fujimoto, Leonetti, Kinyoun, Newell-Morris, Shuman, Stolov, and Wahl, 56% of Nisei (second generation Japanese immigrant) men between the age of 45-47 in the Washington have abnormal glucose tolerance an 20% have Type 1 diabetes. These rates is found to be over twice as high compared to general United States population.

Studies have shown that diabetes in Japanese American is connected with genetic and their diets. Lipson and Kato Palmer believed that Asians' genetic predisposition to diabetes is expressed when they begin eating typical American diet, and not expressed when they eat their native diet. Japanese American who are diagnosed with diabetes were found to consume more fat and animal protein than their non-diabetic counterparts.

Among Japanese American, along with diabetes, they have been reported to suffer from other complications such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, retinopathy, neuropathy, and peripheral vascular disease.

Aside from above comorbidity, Japanese living in America have higher rates of getting stomach cancer compared to native Japanese, as shown in a study in Nisei in Hawaii done by the Honolulu Health Program and Japan Hawaii Cancer Study. Moreover, the elderly patient may be more vulnerable to most diabetes related complicated since these complications develop faster in older patients. Regardless of race and ethnicity, it is very common for older people to develop diabetes, and when it is left untreated, it significantly rises mortality rate. Additionally, there is no significant difference in term of diagnosis of between the elderly and the general population.