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The Impact of Diabetes on Racial/Ethnic Minorities
The Impact of Diabetes on Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that disproportionately affects racial and economically disadvantaged minority groups in America. Nearly a third of all Americans are at risk – over 100 million Americans today have some form of glucose (sugar) intolerance: Diabetes Mellitus (about 25 million) or Prediabetes (several estimates place the number at over 80 million).
The impact of Diabetes on our society is staggering with various studies placing the economic cost at between $200 -250 million annually. That cost looms ever so much higher if one takes into account the national price tag for Dialysis which is over $6 billion a year!
Comorbid conditions associated with Diabetes include renal failure (kidney failure); myocardial infarction of acute coronary syndrome (heart attacks), cerebrovascular accidents (strokes); neuropathy (nerve damage) that often leads to limb amputation; and diabetic retinopathy (progressive visual loss to blindness).
Ethnic/Racial Disparities*
African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asians have a higher prevalence of diabetes as well as a higher rate of complications than whites. Indeed, on average, the conglomeration of African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans bear a 50-100% greater burden of disease and mortality from Diabetes than White Americans.
Diabetes Statistics
African Americans
4.9 million African-American adults, or 18.7% of all African Americans 20 years of age, have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes, compared to 7.1% of non-Hispanic white Americans. The risk of diabetes is 77% higher among African Americans than among non-Hispanic white Americans. In 2006, African-American men were 2.2 times more likely to start treatment for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) related to diabetes than non-Hispanic white men. In 2006, African Americans with diabetes were 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalized and 2.3 times more likely to die from diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. African Americans are almost 50% more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy than non-Hispanic whites.
Hispanic/Latino Americans
11.8% of Hispanic/Latino Americans 20 years of age have been diagnosed with diabetes. The risk of diabetes is 66% higher among Hispanic/Latino Americans than among non-Hispanic white Americans. Among Latino subpopulations, rates of diabetes in those > 20 years of age are 7.6% for both Cubans and for Central and South Americans, 13.3% for Mexican Americans, and 13.8% for Puerto Ricans. Hispanics are 1.7 times more likely to start treatment for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) related to diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes.
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders
8.4% of Asian Americans > 20 years of age and 20.6% of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders > 18 years of age have been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes was the fifth-leading cause of death for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, rising from being the eighth-leading cause of death in 1980. Native Hawaiians have death rates from diabetes that are 22% higher than that of the entire U.S. population. Although Asian Americans tend to have lower BMIs in some subgroups, they are ~ 30% more likely to have type 2 diabetes than their white counterparts.15 Asian-American women are 177% more likely to test positive for GDM than white women and tend to develop it at a lower body weight. 52.3% of men and 42.4% of women 25-64 years of age in American Samoa have type 2 diabetes.
American Indians and Alaska Natives
At nearly 16.1%, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes among U.S. racial and ethnic groups. In 2004, the rate of death due to diabetes for American Indians and Alaska Natives was three times higher than that of the general U.S. population. The rate of diabetes-related kidney failure is 3.5 times higher in American Indians than in the general U.S. population.
Source:
Whittier Street Health Center’s Contribution to Community Wellness and Our multi-faceted Intervention Diabetes Clinic Provides –
Experience and Expertise
Whittier doctors have expertise in treating people with all types of diabetes, including those with hard-to-control blood sugar.
Education
Whittier Street Health Center offers a comprehensive educational program integrated in our Diabetes clinic as well as our Group sessions that arms patients with the tools and information to better control their blood sugars and lead a healthier and more productive life.
Multispecialty Team of Experts
Whittier employs and integrated team approach with the use of a team of specialists to create a customized treatment plan for each patient. Our Diabetes team includes a doctor, diabetes educator, an in-house pharmacist and registered dietitian who all work collaboratively to keep each patient’s blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. Whittier also offers the services of eye care and podiatry (foot care) that Diabetes patients regularly need. Referral and prompt access to kidney and other specialists is also readily available when needed.
Diabetes Group Visits
At Whittier Street Health Center, group visits are an innovative way to help patients with chronic disease better control their disease. The groups assemble once a month in two distinct cluster and are utilized as important vehicles to reach a large number of patients at one time. The overall goal of these groups’ sessions is improved management of Diabetes Mellitus which in turn reduces the physical, fiscal and psychological burden of the disease.
For More Information
If you have Diabetes or know a loved one who does or might have Diabetes, please let us be of service and please call 617-427-1000 and make an appointment.
Additional Resources
Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/care-at-mayo-clinic/why-choose-mayo-clinic/con-20033091
American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/?loc=bb-dorg
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/home/index.html
The National Diabetes Education Program: http://ndep.nih.gov/