摘要
This review surveys the literature published on the characteristics and implications of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) for the Arab andBedouin populations of Israel. T2 DM is a global health problem. The rapid rise in its prevalence in the Arab and Bedouin populations in Israel is responsible for their lower life expectancy compared to Israeli Jews. The increased prevalence of T2 DM corresponds to increased rates of obesity in these populations. A major risk group is adult Arab women aged 55-64 years. In this group obesity reaches 70%. There are several genetic and nutritional explanations for this increase. We found high hospitalization rates for micro and macrovascular complications among diabetic patients of Arab and Bedouin origin. Despite the high prevalence of diabetes and its negative health implications, there is evidence that care and counseling relating to nutrition, physical activity and self-examination of the feet are unsatisfactory. Economic difficulties are frequently cited as the reason for inadequate medical care. Other proposed reasons include faith in traditional therapy and misconceptions about drugs and their side effects. In Israel, the quality indicators program is based on one of the world's leading information systems and deals with the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The program's baseline data pointed to health inequality between minority populations and the general population in several areas, including monitoring and control of diabetes. Based on these data, a pilot intervention program was planned, aimed at minority populations. This program led to a decrease in inequality and served as the basis for a broader, more comprehensive intervention that has entered the implementation stage. Interventions that were shown to be effective in other Arabic countries may serve as models for diabetes management in the Arab and Bedouin populations in Israel.
This review surveys the literature published on thecharacteristics and implications of pre-diabetes andtype 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） for the Arab andBedouin populations of Israel. T2DM is a global healthproblem. The rapid rise in its prevalence in the Araband Bedouin populations in Israel is responsible fortheir lower life expectancy compared to Israeli Jews.The increased prevalence of T2DM corresponds toincreased rates of obesity in these populations. A majorrisk group is adult Arab women aged 55-64 years. Inthis group obesity reaches 70%. There are severalgenetic and nutritional explanations for this increase.We found high hospitalization rates for micro andmacrovascular complications among diabetic patients ofArab and Bedouin origin. Despite the high prevalenceof diabetes and its negative health implications, there isevidence that care and counseling relating to nutrition,physical activity and self-examination of the feet areunsatisfactory. Economic difficulties are frequentlycited as the reason for inadequate medical care. Otherproposed reasons include faith in traditional therapyand misconceptions about drugs and their side effects.In Israel, the quality indicators program is based onone of the world＇s leading information systems anddeals with the management of chronic diseases suchas diabetes. The program＇s baseline data pointed tohealth inequality between minority populations andthe general population in several areas, includingmonitoring and control of diabetes. Based on thesedata, a pilot intervention program was planned, aimedat minority populations. This program led to a decreasein inequality and served as the basis for a broader,more comprehensive intervention that has entered theimplementation stage. Interventions that were shownto be effective in other Arabic countries may serveas models for diabetes management in the Arab andBedouin populations in Israel.
