Minorities "Bear Disproportionate Burden" of Diabetes, Say Researchers

The prevalence of diabetes, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican-Americans is about 70 to 80% higher than that of non-Hispanic whites, according to epidemiologists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose study is published in the in the February issue of Diabetes Care.

The researchers compared the findings of two national surveys that included a fasting blood glucose test and 2-hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. In its analysis, the team also found that:

• About 13% of adults age 20 and older have diabetes, but 40% of them have not been diagnosed.
• An additional 30% of adults have pre-diabetes.

• The rate of diagnosed diabetes increased between the surveys, but the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes remained relatively stable.
• Diabetes prevalence was virtually the same in men and women, as was the proportion of undiagnosed cases.
• Pre-diabetes is more common in men than in women (36% compared to 23%).
• Diabetes is rare in youth ages 12 to 19 years, but about 16% have pre-diabetes.

APTA's ACP course Prevention and Wellness: Practical Strategies in Clinical Practice to Manage Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome is offered April 4-5 in Miami, and June 9-10 in Baltimore, Maryland.