Type 2 Diabetes Among Hispanics


The predisposition for Type 2 Diabetes among Hispanics has become an issue worldwide. As with many other diseases that can be managed and treated if detected early, the issue is more about promoting awareness and disseminating information than the treatment itself.

Hispanic and Latinos have a predisposition to type 2 diabetes and despite the studies linking them to type 2 diabetes along with suggestions to help this ethnicity buck the trend for the sake of themselves as well as future generations, little is being done within Hispanic communities to promote healthier lifestyles. While genetics shoulder some of the blame, socioeconomic situations are the main factor. And it starts almost immediately. Low-income families have been found to be unable to provide and afford healthier choices for their children, forced into spending what they can on less healthy foods full of sugars and fats, which is why type 2 diabetes shows up more in Hispanic ethnic types than any other demographic studied.

Education, or lack thereof, is also a contributing factor to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Hispanics with less than a high school education are far more at risk for developing this condition than those with a high school diploma and a further degree. An inability to seek higher education is often a reason why proper health care is not an option for people like this.

Unfortunately, the cycle repeats itself as Hispanics develop diabetes at a younger age and promotes unawareness and the unlikelihood of detecting the warning signs before it becomes a full-blown case of type 2 diabetes. The toll illegal immigration has taken on the healthcare system in America has been compounded by Type 2 diabetes among Hispanics. Studies confirm the majority of those entering the United  States illegally are of Latin and Hispanic descent. The hopes for this demographic are slim based on the types of jobs they are qualified for and the unhealthy conditions they can be forced into.

Prevention is not out of reach, as type 2 diabetes can be avoided if the factors that cause it are corrected at an early age. Are the threats of potentially losing eyesight or needing to have a limb amputated enough of an influence to foster a healthier way of living? Lifestyle changes have to be implemented, including a more sensible diet, exercise, a proper body weight, and staying away from smoking and other tobacco products.