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Diabetes risk high for American Indians

ADA, Okla., Aug. 10 (UPI) -- American Indians and Alaska natives are 2.3 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said Tuesday.

About 40 percent of adults ages 40 to 74 -- 41 million people -- have pre-diabetes, which raises risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, HHS found in its report.

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The agency Tuesday launched the National Diabetes Education Program at the Chickasaw Nation Health System's Diabetes Care Center in Ada, Okla., part of an effort to reduce the risk of diabetes.

The campaign encourages American Indians and Alaska natives to take steps to lose a modest amount of weight by exercising, eating less and making healthy food choices.

Dr. Griffin Rodgers, deputy director of the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, said in a statement, "The key is regular physical activity and modest weight loss -- as little as 5 to 7 percent of your body weight."

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