The growing prevalence of diabetes mellitus
among adults in the United States is well
documented, with adverse impact strongest
among ethnic minorities and low-income
populations. The age-adjusted prevalence
of diabetes is 12.6% among non-Hispanic
Blacks, 11.8% among Hispanics, and only
7.1% among non-Hispanic Whites.1 Mexican
Americans, who make up almost two thirds of
US Hispanics,2 have an even higher diabetes
prevalence of 13.3%.3 Disparities also persist in
both processes of care and clinical outcomes.
Mexican Americans with diabetes are significantly
less likely than non-Hispanic Whites
with the disease to be aware of and treated
for comorbid hypertension or dyslipidemia 4
Mexican Americans are less likely to receive
recommended clinical services, such as regular
ophthalmologic and foot exams,5 and are less
likely than non-Hispanic Whites to have wellcontrolled
hemoglobin Ale (HbAlc) and cholesterol
levels. In this context, it is not surprising
that they are more than twice as likely as
non-Hispanic Whites to be hospitalized for
uncontrolled diabetes or long-term complications
of diabetes5 and that they experience
higher diabetes mortality rates.8”8 Although
non-Hispanic Whites have experienced reductions
in diabetes-related mortality in the past
decades, Hispanics have not.8 Thus, unless
effective public health strategies are identified
and implemented, gaps in health outcomes
are likely to grow.