Latinos Face Urgent Health Challenge

By: Rebbeca Williams

December 26, 2016

Caused by high levels of sugar in the blood, diabetes is one of the most serious health challenges facing Latinos in our country today. Latinos have a higher risk of devel- oping and dying from diabetes, and are twice as likely as other populations to experience the horri c complications that accompany it.

The prevalence of diabetes increases with age, affecting over 50% of Latino women by age 70 and 44.3% of men aged 70-74. It is the 6th leading cause of death among Latinos in the US, and the 4th leading cause of death for women and the elderly. By 2040, the number of adult Latino Texans with diabetes is projected to grow from 855,000 to 4.7 million, more than the number of Cauca- sians and African Americans with diabetes combined. The disease also has an earlier onset in Latinos than in other populations, leading to an unprecedented growth in the number of Latino youth with diabetes. At current rates, one out of every three children born after 2000 in the US will develop diabetes by 2050.

The health care costs are spiraling out of control as well. On average, diabetes results in medical expenses 2.3 times higher than the norm. The estimated cost for Texas in 2011 was $18.5 billion, a burden we all share.

While the costs are tremendous, the complications are devastating. People with diabetes have a reduced life ex- pectancy of up to 15 years, a two to four times increased risk of heart disease, and damage to organs and the immune system. Latinos with diabetes have one of the highest rates of kidney failure, amputations, blindness, disability and death.

The good news is that diabetes is largely controllable. In many cases it’s preventable, and there are free commu- nity-based diabetes self-management training programs available to help us do it. Programs that help us take control of our own health.

We know that diets low in fruits and vegetables andhigh in soft drinks and fatty snacks, coupled with hours of television that replace physical activity, is a recipefor diabetes. It is an absolute fact that lifestyle changes will make a difference in preventing and managing the disease, but we all need to do our part and act now to get control of this urgent health care crisis.Editor’s note: This article was submitted by Rebecca Wil- liams, Dallas Area Agency on Aging Certi ed Volunteer Facilitator for Stanford University’s Diabetes Self-Man- agement Program. Rebecca is an Independent Contractor with the North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging and may be reached at 214-641-5325 or by email at agewise- ly@mail.com for more information.