Guamanians are some of the most loyal Americans in the nation. With a population of just over 160,000, Guam has the highest military enlistment of any state; one in eight residents are listed as military veterans with the highest per capita rate of soldiers going into combat. Now, this island is fighting for its life in the battle against diabetes.
Based on the best data we have, it’s clear Guamanians are facing a dire diabetes epidemic – especially those of Chamorro descent: 

• 12% of all adults in Guam have diabetes  
• Among adults of Chamorro heritage, diabetes prevalence is even higher, at 16.2% 
• Overall, native Pacific Islanders experience diabetes at over three times the rate of white adult Americans (20.6% compared to 6.8%) 
• Obesity, a major risk factor for diabetes, affects almost 22% of Chamorros  
• Diabetes is the 4th-leading cause of death on Guam 
• The next generation is at risk, too: Guam has a higher rate of childhood obesity than the mainland U.S. at 23% 

But that’s just the problem: the best data we have isn’t good enough. It’s not tracked in one place, up to date, or robust enough to facilitate powerful, collaborative public health interventions. Too often, Guam is not included in analyses or recommendations for lowering U.S. diabetes rates, despite being a part of the U.S. We must improve collection of diabetes data as the first step in improving quality of life for all Guamanians – and it’s only right that the current Chamorro cultural renaissance should include a culturally relevant effort to fight this chronic and devastating disease. 
We call on the CDC to help administer accurate research and data sharing, including a central diabetes registry on Guam, to inform potential solutions.  
From the United States government, we call on members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to rally support from within the government. Advocacy and partnerships in government can lead to legislative measures and transparency on the issue.