Study: 90 percent of NYC diabetics at risk

More than 90 percent of New York City adults already diagnosed with diabetes are in danger of heart attack or stroke, city health officials say.

One in four New York City adults is at high risk of developing diabetes, but adults making less than $20,000 a year were almost twice as likely as higher-income adults to have diabetes — 15.7 percent versus 8.9 percent. African-American New Yorkers were at higher rates than whites — 14.5 percent versus 10.7, the study said.

However, Asian New Yorkers had the highest rates of both diabetes at 16.1 percent and pre-diabetes at 32.4 percent.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol pose extreme hazards to people with diabetes, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, the study said.

Treating these conditions can spare persons with diabetes from complications and early death. However, the study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, found fewer than 10 percent of New Yorkers with diabetes are fully controlling their conditions. More than 90 percent of New Yorkers have elevated blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar — placing them at increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and other complications.