Utah Pacific Islanders and Diabetes

The Utah Department of Health, Office of Health Disparities Reduction coordinated a survey of adult Utah Pacific Islanders (PIs) in 2011. Of adult PIs surveyed, 13.7% (11.2%–16.6%) reported that they had diabetes. When adjusted for age, the Utah PI adult diabetes rate approximately tripled the statewide rate. The high obesity rate among Utah Pacific Islanders likely contributes to the high diabetes rate.

The Utah adult PI diabetes rate estimated through the Utah Pacific Islander Survey is higher than the Utah adult PI diabetes rate obtained through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2005–2010 (BRFSS). The Utah BRFSS may underestimate PI disease rates because it is not conducted in Samoan and Tongan. Utah Pacific Islanders interviewed in Tongan were particularly likely to have diabetes.
 
See the original report at: http://health.utah.gov/opha/publications/hsu/1112_HlthSummit.pdf