Diabetes in the Bedouin population in the Israeli Negev - An update 2017.
AIMS
The Bedouins are an Arab population living in Israel severely impacted by diabetes and obesity. The aim of this research was to update the prevalence of diabetes among Bedouins in the Negev and to observe differences in this population in comparison with non-Bedouins in Israel.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed using the Clalit Health Services database. Diabetes prevalence among Bedouins was compared with non-Arabs and non-Bedouin Arabs in Israel. Differences in sexes and among Bedouins living in planned cities and unrecognized villages were observed.


RESULTS
The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes was 12.3% in the Bedouin population versus 8.2% in the non-Arab population in southern Israel (p < 0.0001). Diabetes prevalence among Bedouins and all Arabs in Israel was similar (12.0%). In all of Israel, age-adjusted diabetes prevalence was 8.8% for men and 7.5% in women (p < 0.0001) compared to 12.0% for men and 12.5% for women in the Bedouin population (p = 0.0008). In the Bedouin population in planned cities, age-adjusted diabetes prevalence was 12.5% versus 10.5% in the Bedouin population in unrecognized villages (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the prevalence of diabetes among Bedouins is higher than non-Bedouins in Israel. Increasing urbanization of the Bedouin population with their higher diabetes prevalence indicates the need for increased medical intervention as well as continuing investigation into the causes.
['Amkraut|Jonathan|J|', 'Zaina|Adnan|A|', 'Abu-Rabia|Yones|Y|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D018912:Arabs D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003920:Diabetes Mellitus D005260:Female D049674:History, 21st Century D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D007557:Israel D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009765:Obesity
Diabetes Bedouin Israel Obesity Urbanization Epidemiological transition