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