Overcoming Disparities: Diabetes Care in High Risk Populations

A Rising Threat, The Impact of Social Determinants of Health

Lurelean B. Gaines, RN, MSN, President of Health Care & Education (ENG) & Aida L. Giachello, Ph.D (ESP)

(Alexandria, VA, Thursday, October 10, 2013) – With nearly 26 million children and adults living with diabetes in the U.S. today, it is clear that we are facing a serious public health crisis. Sadly, the problem is even greater for minority and ethnic populations: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Americans are at much higher risk for a diagnosis of diabetes, and often face disparities in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• 11.8% of Hispanics have diagnosed diabetes and Hispanics are 66% more likely to have diagnosed diabetes compared to non-Hispanic Caucasians.
• Although Asian Americans tend to have lower BMIs, they are around 30% more likely to have type 2 diabetes than their non-Hispanic white counterparts.
• 4.9 million non-Hispanic African Americans aged 20 years or older have diagnosed diabetes. African-Americans are 77% more likely to have diagnosed diabetes compared to non-Hispanic Caucasians.
• At nearly 16.1 percent, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes among all U.S. racial and ethnic groups.

In an effort to identify where diabetes health care gaps exist for high-risk populations, and to develop collaborative solutions to overcome the challenges that create them, the American Diabetes Association is holding its 6^th Annual Disparities Partnership Forum on October 21 and 22, in Arlington, VA.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Social Determinants of Health are the complex, integrated and overlapping social structures and economic systems that are responsible for most health inequities. These social structures and economic systems include the social environment, physical environment, health services and structural and societal factors. Social determinants of health are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources throughout local communities, nations and the world.