Diabetes type 2 in Belgians of Turkish and Moroccan origin

Hadewijch Vandenheede, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The objectives of this paper are to report the prevalence of diabetes type 2 in adults – aged 35 to 74 years – of the Turkish, Moroccan and Belgian communities in Belgium and to examine the determinants and specific mechanisms responsible for differences in diabetes between these communities. Both aims were examined by means of the Health Interview Surveys of 1997, 2001 and 2004. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed with diabetes as outcome variable, lifestyle and socio-economic factors as independent variables. In 35- to 74-year-olds, the prevalence of diabetes type 2 is higher in Belgians of Turkish and Moroccan origin than in native Belgians. The differences are larger in women than in men. In men, the differences disappear after controlling for physical activity and educational attainment. In women, ethnic differences remain significant, although they become smaller after accounting for BMI and educational level.