‘I didn’t expect to be so close to being diabetic’: beliefs of prediabetes and diabetes prevention among Hispanic men at a federally qualified health center

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives Prediabetes is disproportionately prevalent in Hispanic men in the United States. Weight management, such as through lifestyle interventions, effectively reduces diabetes risk. However, Hispanic men remain underrepresented in existing lifestyle interventions, and their preferences for engaging in preventative behaviors remain unexplored. We aimed to explore the experiences of Hispanic men being diagnosed with prediabetes and the perceived influences on engaging in preventative behaviors and lifestyle change. Design This qualitative study conveniently sampled Hispanic men with prediabetes (n = 15) from a Federally Qualified Health Center in New York City. Private semi-structured interviews were audio recorded and explored prediabetes beliefs and perceived influences on engaging in preventative lifestyle change. Transcripts were double-coded using a deductive thematic approach, which revealed 5 major themes consistent with the Health Belief Model. Results (1) Perceived Susceptibility and Severity: Despite fearing diabetes, Hispanic men are unsure about their personal risk for developing it. (2) Cues to Action: Receiving a clinical diagnosis and recognizing its potential impact on family members heightens concerns about diabetes risk. (3) Benefits of Lifestyle Change: Small, practical changes in dieting and exercising can make preventing diabetes manageable. (4) Barriers to Lifestyle Change: Restrictive environments and schedules, coupled with some cultural habits, can lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices. (5) Self-Efficacy: Lifestyle change is a matter of personal agency, but additional information can support the right changes. Conclusions Influences potentially unique to Hispanic men in this setting included references to unhealthy foods environments, overwhelming working conditions, carbohydrate-rich cultural staples, and the threat of diabetes to self-perceptions of being head-of-family. These findings provide insight into Hispanic men’s perceived barriers to engaging in preventative behaviors and motivators that can potentially facilitate their engagement in diabetes prevention.