Epidemic of Type 2 Diabetes Among Hispanic Males

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Introduction

Diabetes is a condition whereby the bodys ability to produce or act to insulin is altered. This leads to high blood sugar levels due to abnormal metabolism. In the Hispanic population blood, sugar readings of more than 11.0 mml/L indicate diabetes. In the United States, the Hispanic populations preference for diabetes is higher than all other races, and these populations are believed to be from Mexico. Diabetes is a disease that is a concern worldwide though it can be controlled through drugs and lifestyle modifications. The preference for diabetes globally is at 21.3%; in the USA, the prevalence is at 15.6%, the Hispanics have the highest preference for diabetes in the states. (Stern & Mitchell, 2018). The number of diabetes cases has continued to increase both globally and in the USA.

It affects an estimated population of 29.1 million individuals in the USA. It is one of the main causes of demise in the United States of America presently. People suffering from diabetes are 1.8 times more to experience a heart attack than those without (American Diabetes Association, 2018). It is the main cause of kidney failure, blindness in old age, and amputation of lower limbs. As of 2017, the estimated cost of diabetes was 327 billion dollars. These costs of medical care continue to increase with time, indicating an increase in the burden. Due to the increasing cases of diabetes, there is a concern about the hiking number of complications associated with diabetes (Khardori, 2019). The hiked number of these complications is likely to lead to overwhelm the current health care. There is a need to focus on recent discoveries to improve the management of diabetes.

Determinants of diabetes

Several factors are related to the high preference for diabetes in males of Hispanic origin in the USA. Among them are genetics; it is believed that Hispanics have genes that increase their likelihood of developing diabetes though it is not well how the genetics contribute to the high level of diabetes in Hispanic males. Another factor related is the income according to the HCHS. It showed that the Hispanics with income lower than $ 20000 per year were found to be related to the high preference of diabetes of 16.9 in males compared with those with an income level of more than $75000 per year, which had a preference of 12.8% (American Diabetes Association, 2018). These higher poverty rates among Hispanics contribute to the higher preference for diabetes. With the low income, there is a likelihood of not preventing or treating the disease and its complications timely.

The level of education affects the development of diabetes in an individual. In a study conducted among the Hispanics, 15% of the population education level was lower than high school diplomas suffered from diabetes in comparison with 7% of them with higher education. Among the Hispanic population, only 15.2% of them acquired higher education or more by 2017 (American Diabetes Association, 2018). Obesity also has a role in the origin of diabetes. The preference for obesity among Hispanic men is high in comparison with other races. An estimated prevalence of obesity of 70% among men aged 20-60 years old was found in Hispanics. Obesity is also an issue in Mexico which is the origin of most Hispanics in the USA.

The lifestyle of Hispanic men also has a role to play in the higher incidence of diabetes. Their diet is believed to be higher in simple carbohydrates, mostly found in refined sugars, white rice; these can increase blood sugars much faster as they do not contain any fibers. Fibers are needed to maintain a healthy weight, most Hispanics dont know their diet choices are making them overweight. Their overweight and intake of diet rich in simple carbohydrates increase their likelihood of getting diabetes; Therefore, Hispanics have a higher prevalence of diabetes than other races. Hispanics should therefore try to put their diet into first.

The culture influences the health-seeking behaviors of a population, most Hispanics believe in a supernatural cure. They believe that only God can bring treatment to them without seeking health care, which is likely to be associated with the high prevalence of diabetes. This is related to the fact that they are less likely to control their blood sugars in cases of pre-diabetes. They prefer healing remedies from healers commonly known as curanderos in their culture. They introduce folk medicine to them; which is less likely to control their blood sugars. Most Hispanic men believe in religion to acquire healing (Johnson & Farquharson, 2019). These beliefs lead to non-adherence to drugs given for diabetes.

The burden of diabetes in the USA continues to increase, thus the cost. The cost of diabetic Patient care has increased greatly over the years. This is found to be related to the increasing burden of diabetes. The cost has risen from two forty-five billion dollars in 2012 to three twenty-seven billion dollars by 2017, according to a study done by American Diabetes Association. This figure shows a 26% increase in the cost of care for diagnosed diabetic patients over five years. Diabetes has not only increased the cost of healthcare but also decreased the productivity of diabetic patients. This cost is in terms of inpatient care, medication, ant-diabetic agents, and specialist office visit. Diabetic people spend an average of $16752 annually on medical expenses, of which about $9601 is spent in diabetes (Kposowa, 2013). Overall, those with diabetes spend 2.3 times more than what they will spend without diabetes.

Most of the Hispanic men are not insured thus spend more of their money on health care, overall, men spend more on healthcare than women. Although the prevalence of diabetes is high in the Hispanic community, they spend less on their healthcare at $8050 compared to the non-Hispanics who spend $10470 (American Diabetes Association, 2018). These estimations show the burden that diabetes has on society.

In research done by Augustine in the year 2018, Hispanics were likely to die from diabetes compared to the non-Hispanics; it is estimated to be 1.3 times more. Diabetes is among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the USA. Researches show that 11.8% of the American population have diabetes, the Hispanics had the highest prevalence of diabetes at 15%. There is a Hispanic paradox showing lower rates of death in Hispanic males compared to deaths from other races. There is a warning to this paradox as there are differences between Hispanics born and raised in the USA and those born in Mexico and grew in the USA. Data from epidemiological surveys have shown that Hispanics are two times likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than Hispanics. Hispanics are more likely to be diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and are 50% more likely to die of diabetic complications than non-Hispanic Caucasians. According to Augustine (2018), these variations are linked to the low health-seeking behaviors of Hispanics. People who were not born in the United States had a 23% lower risk of dying from diabetes than those born in the United States.

According to research by Augustine 2014, it implied that the rates of diabetes were high in people residing in cities and towns in comparison to those residing in remote areas. This was related to people living in the urban areas as they use junky foods and are more likely to experience stress. There were higher death rates of those diagnosed with diabetes living in rural areas than those in urban areas. This was found to be related to poor health care in rural areas. The prevalence of diabetes increased with the length of stay in the USA.

Distribution of diabetes

The distribution of diabetes varies from age to age. It is believed that diabetes is a Condition of old age. The prevalence of diabetes was positively related to age, implying that the prevalence of diabetes also increased as age increased (American Diabetes Association, 2018). A study on Mexican Americans showed that the prevalence of diabetes increased as age advanced, did the research in two cities; New York and Los Angeles City.

Age in years Prevalence in New York Prevalence in Los Angeles y
35-44 7.6 5.9
45-54 19.8 12.7
55-64 29.1 25.0
65-75 19.7 12.8
Above 76 years 17.7 13.6

The results showed a relationship between age and diabetes, the high percentages of diabetes in ages of 55-64 was attributed to the high number of people questioned. That age is usually associated with health-seeking associated with many complications that arise during the age. Hispanic men have the highest rate of being diagnosed with diabetes in the United States

(Cheng et al., 2019). These were found to be related to the culture and lifestyles of the Hispanic populations.

Race Percentage
Non-Hispanic whites 7.5%
Asian Americans 9.2%
Hispanics 12.5
Non-Hispanic blacks 11.7%

Socio-economic status has a role to play in the prevalence of diabetes. Income is an essential factor in studying diabetes, but it is often overlooked. In a study done by Caballero et al., (2020), there was an association between diabetes and those people earning an income lower than $29999 annually. The lower-income earners were associated with poor health-seeking behaviors and stress that is associated with strenuous life. Middle and high-income earners were less likely to experience diabetes. Low living standards can hinder the ability to get better health care and good nutrition for Hispanic males.

Religious beliefs impact the distribution of diabetes among males in Hispanics, in a study. Done in Hispanics, seventy-eight percent believed they were suffering from diabetes as it was the will of God and 82% believed God alone had control over the disease. Their religion could hinder their adherence to drugs (CDC, 2019). It could provide them with the strength to accept the disease and hope God will cure them one time.

Place characteristics

The prevalence of diabetes was highest in the Hispanics in major cities, followed by those. In the inner region, those in the remote areas had the least prevalence.

Categories
Category 4-Hispanic major cities Category 3-Hispanic inner region. Category 2-Hispanics in remote area

The Hispanics involved in strenuous and stressful activities are likely to have a higher prevalence of diabetes. Much strain to the body is related to poor control of blood sugar through the science behind it is not well known.

Time characteristics

The burden of diabetes continues to increase as time goes by. The prevalence of diabetes was 9% in 2001, but increased to 19% in 2019 (Stern & Mitchell, 2018). These are attributed to the changes in lifestyle over time. There was a stagnation of prevalence from 2014 to 2018. As time goes by diabetes burden keeps increasing due to the changing nature of what people do and consume; the advancement of technology has made people to become lazy.

Factors that impact diabetes among Hispanic males

The socio-economic status impacts the development of diabetes. Poverty plays a big role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and related complications. Hispanics from low socio-economic status lacked health insurance and were worried about the bills of diabetes medication. According to (Schneiderman et al., (2014), they also experience problems accessing health care through limited transportation to health facilities due to their low economic status. Their religious beliefs can represent the culture of the Hispanics. Hispanics have a strong belief in God, who is responsible for their diseases and their healing. These cultures are likely to hinder the Hispanic males from seeking healthcare, thus poor control of diabetes hence the increased prevalence of diabetes among the Hispanic males.

The food that Hispanics consume usually has high calories and fat, the food they mostly consume is white rice and refined sugars. According to their culture, Hispanics are likely to overeat due to social pressure during cerebrations. Refusing food is normally termed as impoliteness in their culture. Hispanics have the highest percentages of obesity as most Hispanics are physically inactive compared to non-Hispanics. They normally praise overweight and see it as a sign of good health, not knowing this is a health concern predisposing them to diabetes. Their genetics plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. It is believed that Hispanic men have a gene that increases their chances of developing diabetes. The link between diabetes and genetics is not well known.

Prevention of diabetes in Hispanics

Hispanics have a higher prevalence of diabetes prevention mechanisms are needed to curb the problem of diabetes. Researches have shown that much can be done to curb the development of diabetes. Several people at risk of diabetes can change their diet and exercise to lower their weight; these can help delay or prevent the development of diabetes. Other studies done have shown that metformin delays the onset of diabetes among heavy young people. People practicing all these reduced the incidence of developing diabetes by 58% (Aguayo-Mazzucato et al., 2018). These lifestyle changes worked well in individuals above 60 years by reducing their likelihood of developing diabetes by 71%.

Obesity being a risk factor for diabetes, everyone should aim to decrease weight, thus preventing the prevalence of diabetes. Healthy eating habits are also likely to prevent the development of diabetes (Villena et al., 2011). Foods rich in fiber promote a reduction in weight thus should be encouraged. Fatty foods have high calories and should be avoided to avoid obesity thus diabetes. Communication is also very key in the prevention of diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). The Hispanics should share their cultures with doctors who can advise them accordingly. The doctor can clear the myths that Hispanics have on medicine and are more likely to adhere to their medication with proper communication.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a disease with a very high prevalence of 19% among Hispanic males. It is more common among Hispanics than all other races. The most common factor associated with diabetes in Hispanic males is culture. It Can be prevented among Hispanics through better lifestyles, thus protecting the health of individuals. Lifestyle modifications suggest that Hispanics should exercise, eat foods rich in fiber, avoid foods high in sugar, and avoid foods high in fat. This would be some reduction in the burden of diabetic disease. It has consumed much cash from the economy for medical treatments, also lowers the production level of those suffering from it. This lowers their productivity; hence needs to be prevented as much as possible to increase the countrys economy. It is the role of every individual to fight this disease that is affecting the society negatively.

References

Aguayo-Mazzucato, C., Diaque, P., Hernandez, S., Rosas, S., Kostic, A., & Caballero, A. E. (2018). Understanding the growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the Hispanic population living in the United States. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 35(2), e3097. Web.

American Diabetes Association. (2018). The Cost of Diabetes | ADA. Diabetes.org. Web.

CDC. (2019). Hispanic/Latino Americans and Type 2 Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017 Estimates of Diabetes and Its Burden in the United States Background. Web.

Cheng, Y. J., Kanaya, A. M., Araneta, M. R. G., Saydah, S. H., Kahn, H. S., Gregg, E. W., Fujimoto, W. Y., & Imperatore, G. (2019). Prevalence of Diabetes by Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 2011-2016. JAMA, 322(24), 2389. Web.

Johnson, M. J., & Farquharson, H. R. (2019). Hispanic culture and healthcare in the United States: One persons perspective. Journal of Nursing Research and Practice, 03(04). Web.

Khardori, R. (2019). Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology. Medscape.com. Web.

Kposowa, A. J. (2013). Mortality from Diabetes by Hispanic Groups: Evidence from the US National Longitudinal Mortality Study. International Journal of Population Research, 2013, 112. Web.

Schneiderman, N., Llabre, M., Cowie, C. C., Barnhart, J., Carnethon, M., Gallo, L. C., Giachello, A. L., Heiss, G., Kaplan, R. C., LaVange, L. M., Teng, Y., Villa-Caballero, L., & Avilés-Santa, M. L. (2014). Prevalence of Diabetes Among Hispanics/Latinos From Diverse Backgrounds: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Diabetes Care, 37(8), 22332239. Web.

Stern, M., & Mitchell, B. (2018). Diabetes in Hispanic Americans. Web.

Villena, J., Yoshiyama, C., Sánchez, J., Hilario, N., & Merin, L. (2011). Investigación original / Original research Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Peruvian patients with type 2 diabetes: results of a hospital-based retinal telescreening program. Rev Panam Salud Publica, 30(5), 408422. Web.

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