With more than half of Asian American Diabetes cases going undetected, a bill in the New York State legislature tries to reduce that rate. Specifically, it asks insurance companies to pay for diabetes diagnostic tests for people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23. Says NY State Senator John Liu:
Diabetes is an increasingly silent killer in Asian American communities that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Lowering the BMI threshold for screening will help identify and treat at-risk individuals faster before serious damage is done and save lives. It’s time for the insurance industry to catch up with nationally recognized best practices by making these screenings accessible and free so everyone can get the care they need before complications arise.
You might wonder why this focus on BMI and diabetes. Diabetes in Asian Americans occurs at a lower BMI than the general American population. The Asian American Diabetes Initiative at the Joslin Diabetes Center is promoting the Screen at 23 campaign. Liu’s bill aligns neatly with this effort.
Excellent information and resources on Diabetes and Asian American can be found here. The Joslin Center makes the information available in a number of Asian languages.
