Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community. What is more alarming, according to many diabetes experts, is that the risk of developing diabetes increases when Asians migrate to the U.S., indicating that environmental and lifestyle changes may play a factor in the increasing number of diabetes cases in API communities.

In recognition of November as National Diabetes Awareness Month and in an effort to address the prevalence of diabetes among APIs, the National Asian Women? Health organization (NAWHO) hosted a forum, Making a Difference: A Forum for Action on Asian Americans and Diabetes. The forum brought together health care professionals and community leaders to discuss diabetes research, education and outreach for the API community.

The program began with a keynote address by Kathleen Torres, MPH, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Women? Health on improving the health of the API community, followed by a panel discussion of perspectives on diabetes education and care for the API community. The panel was moderated by Chinese Television Network anchor Lynn Shih.

Panelists included renowned diabetes experts, health educators and consumers.
?. Joseph Wanski, M.D., Endocrinologist and Medical Director, Good Samaritan Hospital
?laudia Ang, RN, BSN, Diabetes Educator, Garfield Medical Center
?arylou Bivian-Alvarez, MPH, Area Health Program Specialist, California Diabetes Control Program. The forum was held Nov. 30 at the Times Mirror Square in downtown Los Angeles.

NAWHO, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently launched the first-ever public education and awareness program for APIs, Control Your Diabetes. For Life. The program is designed to inform APIs with diabetes that controlling their disease can make a big difference in the quality of their lives. Educational materials are available in 12 Asian languages and dialects including Cambodian, Chinese, East Indian, Gujerati, Hindi, Hmong, Korean, Laotian, Ilokano, Samoan, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

"Diabetes is a rising health problem we cannot ignore," said NAWHO President and CEO Mary Chung. "We must ensure that the API community is well informed about the facts, symptoms and treatments of diabetes, and that families and individuals are empowered to make healthy choices that can be life saving."

The National Asian Women? Health Organization (NAWHO) was founded in 1993 to eliminate health disparities for Asian women and families. For more information, contact Trisha Murakawa or Naomi Wong at (213)239-6688.