Diabetes is on the rise in America. Hispanic people in particular face a higher rate of type two diabetes. There are ways to reduce the risk and alleviate the illness if it occurs, however.
The Center for Disease Control believes there could be a link between certain ethnic groups and type two diabetes. The connection is not completely clear yet, however. One of the reasons for a higher rate of type two diabetes is foods higher in fat and calories predominant in some Hispanic communities.
Hispanic communities are also more at risk of having undiagnosed diabetes. There is a “lack of validated assessment tools” according to the American Diabetes Association. There are ongoing efforts to research the high rate of diabetes within Hispanic peoples, and to hopefully prevent it.
Ultimately, greater advocacy is being used to address this serious illness in Hispanic households. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes sections that address the need for more diabetic patient care in “disparately affected populations,” according to the ADA.
Managing diabetes can be a challenging and daunting task. The CDC recommends fully communicating concerns with a doctor. They also have a National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP). Participants learn valuable skills that will help them prevent and manage diabetes, such as dieting and nutrition tips. The classes are available in both Spanish and English.
To learn more about this growing issue, click these links:
https://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/1/43
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/hispanic-diabetes.html?deliveryName=USCDC_201-DM9342
