Intergenerational educational mobility and type 2 diabetes in the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging

Abstract

PurposeUnited States (US) Latinos have the lowest educational attainment of any US racial/ethnic group, which may contribute to their disparate burden of Type 2 Diabetes. Herein, we aimed to examine the association between intergenerational educational mobility and Type 2 Diabetes among US Latino adults. MethodsWe used data from the Niños Lifestyle and Diabetes Study (2013–2014) and the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (1998–1999) to link 616 adult Latino children to their parents. Model-based standardization and robust Poisson regression were used to estimate the prevalence of prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, treatment and glycemic control, and describe their associations with intergenerational educational mobility. ResultsAdult children with stable high intergenerational educational attainment had a higher prevalence of prediabetes (Prevalence Ratio, PR=1.58; 95% Confidence Interval, CI=1.08, 2.34) and lower prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (PR=0.64, CI=0.41, 0.99), as compared to those who experienced low educational attainment across generations. Downward mobility was associated with a higher prevalence of prediabetes (PR=1.54, CI=1.06, 2.23) and worse glycemic control (PR=2.20, CI=1.13, 4.30), and upward mobility was associated with a lower prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (PR=0.39, CI=0.22, 0.70). ConclusionsOur findings from a predominantly Mexican-heritage community suggest that higher education across generations may buffer individuals from glycemic dysregulation. As such, higher education may be a promising public health target to address the rising burden of Type 2 Diabetes in the US.