Lower frequency of diabetes among hospitalized Negro than white children: theoretical implications

A review of the case histories of 471 diabetic children admitted to a children's hospital during the decade 1960 to 1970 showed that the proportion of diabetics among hospitalized Negro children was significantly lower than that among white children (3.8 Negro vs. 10.7 white per 1000 admissions same ethnic group, P less than 0.005). However, the proportion of mild diabetes, characterized by absence of ketosis and no insulin requirement, was higher among Negro (18%) than among white diabetic children (0.5%). These differences could not be explained by differences in environmental factors considered. It is suggested that genetic factors may account for a substantial part of this Negro-white difference.