Exploration of Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes among Arabs in Israel

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is becoming increasingly prevalent and is considered to be a major public health threat worldwide. Behavioral and sociodemographic factors associated with T2DM vary within different societies.

The aim of this study is to determine the various behavioral and sociodemographic factors associated with T2DM in the Arab society in Israel.

A cross-sectional study was conducted based on data from 1,894 residents over the age of 21 belonging to the Arab population in Israel. The data collected from the subjects were subjected to statistical analyses using the SPSS program.

Of the total sample population, 13.7% were found to be affected with T2DM. The prevalence of T2DM increased sharply in the successive age groups of both men and women. The prevalence of T2DM was found to increase progressively particularly in women with an increase in BMI (~20%, 37% and 44% respectively), while, in men it increased sharply (from 25% to ~50%) until a BMI of 29.9; it then decreased drastically (to ~24%) for a BMI of ≥30. About 85% of the men affected with T2DM were physically inactive, while 97% of the affected women were physically inactive. Almost half of the participants with diabetes have a family history of the disease in both genders. In the multivariate analysis, it was found that age, obesity, physical inactivity and family history of the disease were the significant factors associated with the prevalence of diabetes.

It could be concluded that age, obesity, family history and physical inactivity were the significant factors associated with the prevalence of T2DM within the Arab society in Israel.