Hispanics Are More Likely to Get Diabetes

Homestead-based Sunbright Health Medical Centers advises the community to make healthier life choices to control their blood sugar levels.

Every year, November 14 marks World Diabetes Day, a date that the World Health Organization created in response to the escalating health threat posed by diabetes around the globe. More than 30 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and millions more are at high risk of contracting the condition due to elevated blood sugar levels (prediabetes).

Diabetes is a lifelong illness that affects the way insulin is produced and used by the body. People with diabetes are either unable to produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or unable to use it properly (type 2 diabetes). Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all cases diagnosed with diabetes and around 5 percent of type 1 diabetes.

People of certain racial and ethnic groups are more likely to develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. For instance, Hispanics are 17% more likely to have type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanics whites (8%), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Just in Florida, it is estimated that over 2.4 million people have diabetes, and over 5.8 million have prediabetes. A study from the Florida Diabetes Advisory Council shows that Hispanics account for 10.9% of the prevalence of diabetes in the state. In Miami-Dade, 8% of the Latino population is diabetic.

“Nowadays, patients at a younger age are getting type 2 diabetes diagnoses. Obesity and sedentary lifestyle are the main cause for the prevalence of this disease in the Hispanic community,” mentions Adanys Alonso-Alfonso, Chief Operating Officer at Sunbright Health Medical Centers.

Risk factors like weight and lack of activity, food and even genetics play an essential role in developing type 2 diabetes. In most Hispanic cultures, food can be high in calories and fat, and even genetics increases the chances of developing this chronic condition. It is not clear what role genes play in the equation, but what’s clear is that background and heritage is tied with diabetes. It is twice as likely for a Puerto Rican to have diabetes than for a South American.

Sunbright Health Medical Centers recommends to patients that have been diagnosed with diabetes to make healthy choices and take everyday actions to manage their blood sugar levels. This includes eating healthy food, being physically active most days, taking medication if needed, and getting regular checkups.

“Our network of specialists is well-trained to assist patients diagnosed with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Our team works collaboratively to ensure all care and treatment is coordinated and considered within the scope of the patient’s diabetes,” says Alonso-Alfonso.

Sunbright Health Medical Centers offers a comprehensive range of services. Whether patients seek health and wellness services or specialist treatment, patients receive advanced care in a community-based setting in Homestead.
For more information on health and wellness programs for conditions such as diabetes, visit sunbrighthealthcenters.com or call (305) 998-78855.

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