A1. Diabetes Prevalence Among Hispanics

The Center for Diseases Control (CDC) estimates that there are approximately 17 million diabetics in the U.S. and that 35% of these individuals are unaware that they have developed the disease. Furthermore, research shows that in comparison to other groups, Hispanics are affected by diabetes disproportionately [17]. Diabetes is extremely prevalent in states of the South and Southwest such as Texas where many Hispanics reside (See Figure 1 below). Hispanics in turn comprise approximately 10% of all diabetes cases [19].

Figure 1: Age-Standardized Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes per 100 Adult Population by State, United States, 2000.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Di

sease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health, data from the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Although not among those of Mexican descent, Hispanics of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican descent have reported using karela (also known as bitter melon) to control their diabetes. Karela has been described as a type of gourd resembling a cucumber that grows on a slender climbing vine. Some report that this is the most commonly worldwide used plant to treatment diabetes. Shapiro et al reported in their literature that it various studies, it has exhibited hypoglycemic activity in both animals and humans [13]. Perhaps, if karela were to be introduced to states of the southwest, Mexicans and Mexican Americans reap from the benefits of it anti-hypoglycemic qualitites.

2. Natural products used for diabetes

5. Prevalence of diabetes in Mexican Americans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982-1984

23. Pugh JA, Stern MP, Zapata M. Incidence of end-stage renal disease secondary to diabetes mellitus in Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic white. Diabetes 1986; 35 (suppl 1):72 A.

20. The growing need to teach about complementary and alternative medicine: questions and challenges.

Some topics in this essay:
Survey Egede, Mexican Americans, Medicine NCCAM, Diabetina Diabetil, Paso Texas, Arabian Peninsula, Mexican American, Hispanics Hispanics, Rican Dominican, Utilized Hispanics, et al, alternative medicine, complementary alternative, et al reported, complementary alternative medicine, al reported, cam therapies, diabetes mellitus, mexican americans, treatment diabetes, conventional medicine, mexican descent, shapiro et al, end-stage renal disease, health nutrition examination,