Are African American patients at a higher risk for olanzapine-induced glucose intolerance?

There are reports of olanzapine-induced type II diabetes, or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus (Fertig et al. 1998; Gatta et al. 1999; Goldstein et al. 1999; Lindenmayer and Patel 1999; Ober et al. 1999; Wirshing et al. 1998) and increased triglycerides (Sheitman et al. 1999). We report on eight schizophrenic patients [seven African American (AA) and one Caucasian] who developed type II diabetes after olanzapine treatment, and their clinical management.