Running head: DIABETES IN THE HISPANIC POPULATION

Diabetes Mellitus in the Hispanic Population

Vanessa Grout

University of South Carolina- Lancaster

DIABETES IN THE HISPANIC POPULATION 2

In the United States, obesity is linked to cardiovascular disease such as hypertension

and/or congestive heart failure, stroke, and Type 2 Diabetes (Cruz, Hernandez-Lane, Cohello, &

Bautista, 2013). Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough

insulin to break down carbohydrates or glucose that are consumed by the individual. Type 2

Diabetes is prominent in the Hispanic population and is currently being diagnosed at a rapidly

increasing rate. In order to reduce the prevalence of diabetes in the Hispanic community barriers

need to be addressed, as well as the implementation of diabetes education practices, preventive

measures, management and solutions.

There are a multitude of factors in which the Hispanic community is affected by this

disease. Factors such as not having access to health insurance, lack of available resources and

language barriers contribute to the high prevalence rates of diabetes in Hispanic populations. The

implementation of the Affordable Care Act has brought new options to individuals who did not

have health insurance. Other resources such as Medicaid and/or Medicare are available to

individuals who qualify for this type of government assistance. Free clinics are also available in

communities and may allow individuals of low-income levels to receive care. Health insurance

and access to health care can aid in reducing the increasing rates of diabetes.

Language barriers prevent some individuals from obtaining accurate information about the

disease, treatment options and how to manage the disease. Educational material on diabetes

needs to be translated accurately in the Spanish language. Also, public health websites such as

the state department of health or national health websites need to be translated to Spanish to

allow for more resources and better access to information. Hispanics face many barriers that can

potentially increase their risk of developing diabetes.

DIABETES IN THE HISPANIC POPULATION 3

In an acute hospital setting, newly diagnosed cases of Type 2 Diabetes include diabetic

education before discharge. According to Valen, Narayan, and Wedeking (2012), effective

diabetes education must include information about diabetes, glucose monitoring, nutritional

management, possible complications of diabetes, and medication administration. Resources such

as handouts and educational tools are also used to aid in effective diabetes education. Nutritional

management education should teach meal plans that follow diabetic diet guidelines as well as

teaching clients how to properly read nutritional labels (Valen et al., 2012). Weight management

education should promote physical activities such as exercise, dance, and walking (Valen et. al,

2012). A community-based study conducted by Cruz et al. (2013), suggests that the

implementation of community health programs and the use of community health workers may

improve diabetes knowledge among the Hispanic population. Cruz et al. (2013) reported that

effective diabetes education must include disease information, risk factors, preventative

measures, and management of disease. Risk factor information as well as family risk information

is necessary in order to raise awareness about genetic predisposition to diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes is a preventable disease that can be controlled by a change in behavior,

an increase in physical activity, and a change in lifestyle choices. Prevention is the key answer to

reducing diabetes in the Hispanic population. Preventative measures through the application of

Betty Neuman’s theoretical approach in which primary and secondary interventions are used to

prevent the development of diabetes. Primary intervention focuses on the act of preventing a

disease before it occurs (Catalano, 2015). This is generally achieved by implementing healthy

lifestyle choices. An example of a primary intervention to prevent diabetes from developing is

education about healthy and safe habits such as healthy diets and physical activity. Hispanic diets

are typically high in carbohydrates and include foods such as corn, rice, beans, pasta, and bread.
DIABETES IN THE HISPANIC POPULATION 4

Many Hispanics have a lack of knowledge about healthier eating habits and do little to no

physical activity. Promoting better eating habits and physical activity will aid in reducing the risk

of developing diabetes. Secondary intervention is the early detection of a disease and treatment

of symptoms (Catalano, 2015). Secondary interventions focus on health screenings or regular

check-ups. Health screenings generally include testing for A1C levels, blood glucose levels, and

body-mass index or BMI in patients who are considered “pre-diabetic” or at risk for developing

Type 2 Diabetes. Early detection of newly diagnosed onset of diabetes will prevent further

complications that are caused by uncontrolled diabetes.

Tertiary intervention focuses on maintaining or restoring an individual to their natural

state while improving their quality of life (Catalano, 2015). A few tertiary interventions include

glycemic control, medication compliance, and insulin administration (Valen et al., 2012).

Management and control of diabetes is important in order to prevent secondary illnesses.

Secondary illnesses include; permanent blindness and diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage,

caused by uncontrolled diabetes (Cruz et al., 2013). Another complication of uncontrolled

diabetes is chronic infection that can result in the amputation of the limb (Cruz et al., 2013). A

solution to reducing Diabetes Type 2 in Hispanics is the implementation of public health

initiatives to achieve overall community wellness. Community health programs should provide

educational resources such as symptom management programs and healthy lifestyle educational

programs (Cruz et al., 2013). Other public health measures for diabetes education and

management include health fairs that are located at churches with Spanish services, which raise

diabetes awareness. Cultural preferences should also be taken into consideration when

developing a dietetic plan such as customizing and adjusting Latin dishes to comply with

diabetic diet guidelines. A method in improving compliance and management of diabetes in

DIABETES IN THE HISPANIC POPULATION 5

Hispanic patients are follow-up home health visits or follow up appointments at a primary care

clinic every 3 to 6 months by a nurse or health care provider who is fluent in Spanish.

In order to reduce the prevalence of diabetes in the Hispanic community, barriers such as

not having access to health care, lack of health insurance, and lack of available resources need to

be addressed first. Language barriers also prevent individuals from obtaining access to health

information. Accurately translating health information about diabetes to Spanish can help reduce

the increasing rates of diabetes among Hispanics in the United States. Overall, diabetes

education that includes preventive measures, management and solutions can potentially improve

the health outcomes of diabetic patients within the Hispanic population.

 DIABETES IN THE HISPANIC POPULATION 6

References

Catalano, J. T. (2015). Nursing now! Today’s issues, tomorrow’s trends (7th ed.). Philadelphia, P

A: F.A .Davis Co., 65-67.

Cruz, Y., Hernandez-Lane, M., Cohello, J., & Bautista, C. (2013). The Effectiveness of a Community

Health Program in Improving Diabetes Knowledge in the Hispanic Population: Salud y

Bienestar (Health and Wellness). Journal Of Community Health, 38(6), 1124-1131.

doi:10.1007/s10900-013-9722-9

Valen, M. S., Narayan, S., & Wedeking, L. (2012). AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO DIABETES

EDUCATION FOR A HISPANIC POPULATION UTILIZING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.

Journal Of Cultural Diversity, 19(1), 10-17.