Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Seattle and Tokyo

Abstract

Human diabetes mellitus is a heterogenous disorder. Both genetic and environmental factors affect the development and the course of the disease. A cross-cultural study in which a migrant pure Japanese population living in Seattle is compared to a native Japanese population in Tokyo may distinguish significant environmental influences upon the occurrence and course of diabetes from influences due to race. To examine the feasibility of mounting a cross-cultural study of type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus in the Japanese-American (Nikkei) community of the greater Seattle (King County) region of Washington State and the native Japanese population of Tokyo, a pilot study was begun in 1979 and completed in 1981. Nikkei refers to all Japanese who have become permanent residents of the United States and includes first generation immigrants.