Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects a large number of the American population. When compared to their representation in the general American population, a disproportionate number of Latinx individuals are affected. Within the Latinx American population, T2DM prevalence rates vary among individuals based on their country of origin. Deaths from T2DM among Latinx American population are also more compared to other ethnicities. This disparity underlines the importance of understanding the cultural considerations of T2DM disease presentation and management in Latinx communities, including risk factors, socioeconomic variables, and other social determinants of health such as access to care. There are various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for the development of T2DM, regardless of race. Staple foods in the diet of Latinx American communities, such as tortillas, rice, and beans, can cause spikes in blood sugar levels and can lead to obesity, which predisposes patients to develop T2DM. Latinx American populations suffer from lower access to healthcare than the general population due to many reasons, including language proficiency, immigration status, socioeconomic status, and level of acculturation. This study utilized the format of a commentary, while incorporating elements of a scoping review for data collection, to further explore these disparities and their impact on these populations. Understanding the cultural beliefs of Latinx individuals and how these beliefs contribute to the perceived development of T2DM is essential to properly treat these unique populations. Despite high rates of T2DM affecting Latinx individuals, non-adherence to prescribed diabetes medications is high among these populations. Interventions in the form of culturally tailored preventative education, in addition to active T2DM management, are necessary to combat the toll of this disease on Latinx Americans. Generic interventional techniques and methods should be replaced entirely by those that acknowledge, highlight, and utilize the sociocultural characteristics of Latinx Americans.
Highlights
BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects 10.5% of Americans (34.2 million), with a disproportionate number being of Latinx or Hispanic descent [1]
Disparities experienced by Latinx Americans are apparent in the trends and statistics of disease prevalence among this community, for example, though T2DM is the major cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Latinx individuals, those with CKD maintain poor management of T2DM, lack medication adherence, may be unaware of the association of CKD with T2DM, and have the potential to progress to ominous disease faster than non-Latinx communities [6,7]
The prevalence of T2DM in the Latinx population in the United States is likely attributable to a number of key factors, most notably those related to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, including diet, language proficiency, immigration status, and cultural beliefs
Summary
BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects 10.5% of Americans (34.2 million), with a disproportionate number being of Latinx or Hispanic descent [1]. Disparities experienced by Latinx Americans are apparent in the trends and statistics of disease prevalence among this community, for example, though T2DM is the major cause of CKD in Latinx individuals, those with CKD maintain poor management of T2DM, lack medication adherence, may be unaware of the association of CKD with T2DM, and have the potential to progress to ominous disease faster than non-Latinx communities [6,7]. The COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized health disparities experienced by Latinx Americans, as these populations are experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 infection, potentially due to their increased likelihood of having a comorbid condition, such as T2DM [8]. These disparities underline the importance of understanding the cultural considerations of T2DM in Latinx communities, including risk factors and access to care. This commentary with a modified scoping review aims to build off the existing “Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project (CDHNOP): A Qualitative and Quantitative Approach to Caribbean Health” [9] by further exploring the current data
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