Diabetes
and Ethnicity
Numerous
global studies and the rising incidence of diabetes
have revealed one factor in particular; an individual’s
ethnicity can either increase or decrease their risk
of developing diabetes. Whilst in some cases this
can be explained by access to healthcare and other
socio-economic factors, studies have proved that even
with equal access prevalence of diabetes differs between
people of different ethnicity. Furthermore, diabetes
affects different ethnic groups in different ways.
One Canadian expert reportedly called these “certain
intrinsic differences.”
Although India and China are currently regarded as
being the diabetes capitals of the world, to gain
an appreciation of the variation of diabetes prevalence
between different ethnic groups, the USA provides
a valid model for study. The USA houses an enormously
diverse ethnic mix. The National Health Interview
Survey is one of the most comprehensive studies to
date.
In the USA, according to results from the study, it
appears that black and Hispanic people are more likely
to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. Furthermore,
American Indians and Natives of Alaska are apparently
more likely than any other minority to develop diabetes.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have also been
found to be significantly more at risk of developing
diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.
The prevalence of diabetes amongst ethnic minorities
can also cause problems in terms of treatment and
healthcare. The problems can stem from language barriers
and non-ethnically sensitive prevention and treatment
policies. Studies have repeatedly shown that the key
to stemming the flow of global diabetes is early prevention,
education and awareness. It is the responsibility
of every nation’s healthcare system to recognise
the ethnic minorities most at risk and develop culturally
appropriate treatment programs for them.
