Family history of diabetes, awareness of risk factors, and health behaviors among African Americans.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the role of family history of diabetes in awareness of diabetes risk factors and engaging in health behaviors.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1122 African American adults without diabetes who were participants in Project DIRECT (Diabetes Interventions Reaching and Educating Communities Together).


RESULTS
After adjustment for age, gender, income, education, body mass index, and perceived health status, African Americans with a family history of diabetes were more aware than those without such a history of several diabetes risk factors: having a family member with the disease (relative risk [RR]=1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.03, 1.15), being overweight (RR=1.12; 95% CI=1.05, 1.18), not exercising (RR=1.17; 95% CI=1.07, 1.27), and consuming energy-dense foods (RR=1.10; 95% CI=1.00, 1.17). Also, they were more likely to consume 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day (RR=1.31; 95% CI=1.02, 1.66) and to have been screened for diabetes (RR=1.21; 95% CI=1.12, 1.29).


CONCLUSIONS
African Americans with a family history of diabetes were more aware of diabetes risk factors and more likely to engage in certain health behaviors than were African Americans without a family history of the disease.
Baptiste-Roberts
Kesha
K
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md 21205, USA.
Gary
Tiffany L
TL
Beckles
Gloria L A
GL
Gregg
Edward W
EW
Owens
Michelle
M
Porterfield
Deborah
D
Engelgau
Michael M
MM
D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics*; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking