Differences in body fat distribution may be to blame for why Americans of Indian descent seem to be more likely to develop diabetes, according to a new study.

Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta say Indian adults have roughly three times the risk of getting the disease than other white Americans and other Asian-Americans, even if they are not overweight, according to Reuters.

Among obese adults, about one-third of Indians are diabetic. That’s compared to between 12 and 17 percent for people with other ethnic backgrounds.

Previous studies have shown that Asians in general have a higher proportion of body fat at any weight and a greater risk for type 2 diabetes than others.

The World Health Organization has proposed lowering the parameters for defining overweight in Asian populations. And, the researchers involved in this study say it proves that ethnicity alone may be a good measure of diabetes risk.

The Mayo Clinic says inactivity, weight, age and family history are also factors that could increase your risk of developing the disease.

Among natural remedies believed to help manage blood sugar levels are chromium and cinnamon.