Diabetes Crisis Growing Among Hispanics, Experts Push for Tailored Solutions
By Dieter K. Mouchkatine
Across the United States, Hispanic and Latino communities continue to face a disproportionate burden from type 2 diabetes, a disease that now affects millions and has widened long-standing health inequities. In Travis County alone, between 2016–2020, the diabetes prevalence among Hispanic adults was about 12.6%, which is almost twice the percentage among non-Hispanic White adults over the same period.
With national type 2 diabetes statistics estimating Hispanic adults to be at a 66% higher risk for developing the chronic condition, experts explain that the heightened risk is not purely genetic. In fact, research attests that it is highly correlated with inequalities in access to healthcare, income, education and language and cultural barriers.
Moreover, the NIH put the total economic cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2022 at around $412.9 billion, comprising $306.6 billion in direct medical costs and $106.3 billion in indirect costs attributed to diabetes. As such, the time to find innovative solutions for the Hispanic and Latino community is now.
Barriers Beyond Biology
Arguably, the healthcare system continues to struggle to meet the needs of Hispanic patients. Many face financial obstacles, limited access to primary care, language barriers, and fears of receiving care associated with their immigration status; all these barriers make managing a chronic illness unnecessarily difficult.
Neighborhood conditions also play a role. Studies find that Hispanic families are more likely to live in areas known as food deserts, with over 20.8% of Latino households having experienced food insecurity in 2022; such factors alone are known to increase the risk of diabetes.
Moreover, a recent study found that Hispanic non-White neighborhood disparities often contributed to a minimization of opportunities for both physical and social engagement, affecting levels of stress and overall well-being, which can be causally linked to higher incidences of type 2 diabetes as well.
Innovative Models Making a Difference
Despite these challenges, many community-based programs across the country are showing improvements when care meets culture.
In California, the Latino Health Access program trains promotoras, or trusted community health workers, to teach diabetes self-management in Spanish-speaking communities. A study found that participants in the program saw significant improvements in blood sugar levels and overall health.
Some healthcare centers in states with large Hispanic populations have also begun pairing technology with human connection. Such programs have begun using text message check-ins and bilingual telehealth, alongside community educators, to meet patients where they are and help keep them on track with diabetes management.
Tackling Barriers
Advocates agree that the next step is to turn small-scale successes, such as those seen in California communities, into sustainable, nationwide policy changes.
Such changes should include investing in programs to provide more bilingual care, expanding community programs, and introducing diabetes prevention in schools, churches, and workplaces.
That is why organizations like the Hispanic Federation advocate for expanded preventive programs, and many local public health agencies push for better data collection to tailor outreach more effectively.
Though, for now, it's clear that the focus must begin on equity so that no one's zip code or language determines the quality of care people in the US receive.
The question for Austin is: How do we become a model for other cities to follow in the fight for equitable access to healthcare?
For questions or comments, contact: dieter@saldanapr.com