34 Tabie 20 Diabetes Survey: Preliminary Results, 1974 _ Group Diabetes No. No. Glvcosuria with normal blood sugar No. peopie* cases % cases % 375 103 27.5 29 75 Rongelap and Utirik Female Male 195 180 48 26.7 17 9.4 Obese 196 58 29.6 18 9.2 Utirik 201 174 37 46 28.4 Residing at** Majuro Ebeve Rongelap 120 116 38 37 29 16 30.8 25.0 27.6 Non-obese 51 Rongelap 136 Utirik 22 81 21 25.9 10 16.2 5.1 10 74 high incidence $fdiabetes in some Polynesian. populations,®5-6? ‘others haveanbeeted alow incideriée.68-70 : The overall cilaad diallers.was ~ % ofSBeagppetiontsFircigs st te normality. The ave age e diabétics w ‘that ofheiiabetics. as c ahmales a in femaleaby 4a- finite. estaterhenh must@¥ await completionofthe data anabjsis. Obey was much more common in womenthanin n, and the data indicate an ‘intreasedinddence amapg more closely resembles maturity onset diabetes with absence of acute symptoms, ketosis, and absolute dependence on insulin treatment. The data do not suggest any differences between Rongelap and Utirik people (genetics) or between places of residence (environmental influence), and constantly move between homeisland and the centers; the place where an individual is exam- ined may not be wherehehas spent the major part of, say, the last 10 years. Despite the limitations, the preliminaryresults are considered to be of sufficient interest to warrant a more careful and complete investigation Additional observations will be made to provide the missing information and to obtain more objective data regarding the incidence of neuropathy. cataracts, and retinopathyin these patients. The insulin response to a glucose challenge would also be of interest in assessing someofthe factors that might be importantin the etiology of diabetes in the Marshall Islands. The examinationsare by necessity restricted to Rongelap and Utirik people. When the Eniwetok and Bikini people return to their homeislands in sufficient numbers, the diabetes investigations may be expanded to cover these groups. obese subjects. dither thayigoe be gouch.Bioretom- monin the di this The limited data available did not suggest evidencefor increased retinopathyor peripheral vascular disease among the diabetics. The disease pathogenesis. However, analysis of this factoris difficult because of the mobility of the people, who 25.9 Marshall Islands is considerable and is probably greater than in any other population groups except possibly certain American Indian groups.*4 Although someprevious reports have indicated a tage basis of history of paresthesias and/or objective abnormalities in reflexes and sensory perception. ) erable and might well play a significant role in **Includes both Rongelap and Utirik people residing at these locations. The disease ap evaluated. (Neuropathy was evaluated on the there is no evidence that radiation exposure has played a part in the pathogenesis. The differences in diet and generalliving conditions between the “outer islands” and the district centers are consid- 26.4 “Includes 10 subjects from otheratolls, married to Rongelap and Utirik people . considerably greater betics than of the nondiabetics had neuropathy, but, because of age differences and other factors previously stated, covariance must be eliminated from the data before these observations can be i Seadiege a buf wouldtertairffy beinete of the diabetic population. No definite difference was seen in the incidence of cataracts amongindividuals known to have diabetes compared with those in whom the diagnosis was made duringthis survey. A significantly higher percent of the dia- H. CHROMOSOME AND GENETIC STUDIES 1. Studies of Chromosomesfor Radiation Effects In 1964 chromosome preparations were obtained from lymphocytes cultured from the penph- eral blood of 43 exposed (21, age <(20: 22. age