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Type 2 Diabetes Among Hispanic Populations

Sanny Vasallo

Florida National University

Health Promotion & Role Development in Adv. Nursing Practice

Dr. Nora Hernandez-Pupo

May 17, 2025

Type 2 Diabetes Among Hispanic Populations

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic and progressive condition in which the body becomes resistant to insulin or fails to produce enough insulin, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels (Galicia-Garcia et al., 2021). It is one of the world's biggest public health crises and is widespread in the US. The illness affects all demographics, although Hispanics are disproportionately affected. Hispanics, one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the US, are at increased risk of T2DM and related consequences. Genetic, behavioural, social, and environmental variables, such as inadequate healthcare access, food hardship, language hurdles, and cultural illness and wellness views, cause this discrepancy. Additionally, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and high rates of obesity increase vulnerability. Addressing T2DM in Hispanic communities is essential to eliminating health disparities and increasing population health. Local, national, and global health promotion efforts are needed to reduce this disease's prevalence and consequences in at-risk areas.

Global Relevance of Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a global epidemic that has grown in scale over recent decades. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF, 2025) estimates that 589 million individuals worldwide have diabetes, rising to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of these cases. The illness increases worldwide mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. More than 6.7 million deaths globally were attributed to diabetes and its complications in 2021 alone. About 80% of diabetes-related fatalities occur in low- and middle-income nations, where type 2 diabetes is becoming disproportionately prevalent. Due to underfunded healthcare systems, a shortage of vital pharmaceuticals, and an insufficient public health infrastructure, many nations fail to undertake preventative initiatives.

Latin American countries, which represent the ethnic origin of many Hispanic populations in the US, face a rapidly rising prevalence of diabetes. T2DM is the second most significant cause of mortality in Mexico, affecting 15.2% of adults (Bello-Chavolla et al., 2022). Similarly, in Brazil, around 11.5% of adults are living with diabetes. Urbanization, processed food consumption, reduced physical exercise, and obesity increase these rates. The World Health Organization states that 60% of Latin American individuals are overweight or obese, a key T2DM risk factor. Cultural stigma and diabetes ignorance in these nations add to diagnostic and treatment delays. Although knowledge, resource allocation, and infrastructure limitations persist, these areas have prioritized chronic illness management in public health policies.

Globally, many efforts have been initiated to stem the tide of diabetes. The World Diabetes Foundation and PAHO fund preventive, community outreach, and health education programs, especially in Latin America. These programs promote a balanced diet, frequent exercise, checkups, and improved insulin and medication access. However, owing to the enormity of the problem, especially among Hispanic populations, culturally appropriate treatments that connect with impacted groups are needed.

National Relevance of Type 2 Diabetes

In the United States, Type 2 diabetes represents a growing epidemic, with serious consequences for both individual health and the healthcare system at large. As of 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 38.4 million Americans—approximately 11.6% of the population—have diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). Many of the 96 million individuals with prediabetes are uninformed. The sixth greatest cause of mortality in the nation, T2DM causes heart disease, stroke, renal failure, amputations, and visual loss, which contribute to disability. The American Diabetes Association reports $327 billion in yearly expenses, including $237 billion in direct medical costs and $90 billion in lost productivity.

Within this national context, the Hispanic community is especially vulnerable. Diabetes is 66% more common among Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites, according to the Office of Minority Health (2024). Furthermore, according to Vidal et al. (2022), 12.5% of Hispanic adults in the US had diabetes, with higher prevalence among Mexican Americans (13.8%) and Puerto Ricans (14.4%). Gene susceptibility and modifiable risk factors, such as high obesity rates (over 45% among Hispanic adults), poor nutrition, restricted exercise, and institutional obstacles to treatment, contribute to this gap. Many Hispanic individuals are uninsured or underinsured, which reduces access to routine screenings, primary care visits, and diabetes management resources.

Language barriers and cultural beliefs can also influence disease outcomes. For example, Hispanic patients may rely on folk cures or postpone medical treatment owing to skepticism of the healthcare system. Regularly eating tortillas, rice, and sugary drinks contributes to diabetes development and poor management. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) offers culturally targeted treatments to high-risk groups, especially Hispanics, to address these inequities. Continued assistance and extensive implementation are needed to minimize this public health burden.

Local Relevance and Perspective

The impact of Type 2 diabetes among Hispanic populations is especially pronounced in California, which is home to the largest Hispanic population in the country, comprising nearly 40% of the state's residents. According to the California Department of Public Health, approximately 2.5 million Californians have been diagnosed with diabetes, and this number continues to rise (American Diabetes Association, 2023). Hispanic adults in the state experience a 10.2% diabetes rate, compared to 7.1% for non-Hispanic whites. Even more troubling is the high percentage of untreated diabetes among Hispanic males, many of whom seldom see the doctor. Obesity, food insecurity, and inactivity are greater in low-income and immigrant areas, increasing diabetes risk.

In Los Angeles County, where Hispanics make up almost 50% of the population, diabetes is a leading cause of death and disability. The L.A. County Department of Public Health indicates that Hispanic communities had twice the diabetes mortality rate of non-Hispanic neighborhoods. Insufficient healthcare facilities and difficult socioeconomic situations exacerbate the issue in agricultural areas like the Central Valley. Diabetes testing and management services for Spanish-speaking communities are available at AltaMed Health Services, Clinica Romero, and Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (ChapCare), although demand exceeds supply.

Efforts at the local level are gaining momentum. The California Health and Human Services Agency's "Vive Bien" (Live Well) initiative promotes healthy eating, exercise, and chronic illness education in Spanish-speaking areas. School-based health programs are also being piloted to educate children and families about healthy lifestyle habits early on. Faith-based and cultural groups organize health fairs and link locals to healthcare. To promote fair health results, structural issues, including high food prices, unsafe recreational places, and immigration concerns, must be addressed together.

The growing burden of Type 2 diabetes among Hispanic populations highlights the urgent need for targeted and multi-tiered health promotion strategies. Global health organizations must work with Latin American governments to enhance access to care, decrease obesity, and create culturally appropriate education initiatives. Nationally, the US must extend Medicaid, build multilingual health workforces, and fund community-based preventative initiatives to address socioeconomic determinants of health. Improved involvement and results need culturally, linguistically, and family-centered interventions. State and local governments must work with trusted community institutions like churches, schools, and neighborhood clinics to promote diabetes prevention and self-management. Solutions such as mobile health units, nutrition classes, and support groups help improve disease control. Reducing Hispanic diabetes would enhance lives and lower the economic and social consequences of one of the nation's most urgent chronic illnesses.

References

American Diabetes Association. (2023). The burden of diabetes in california. https://diabetes.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/ADV_2023_State_Fact_sheets_all_rev_California.pdf

Bello-Chavolla, O. Y., Antonio-Villa, N. E., Fermín-Martínez, C. A., Fernández-Chirino, L., Vargas-Vázquez, A., Ramírez-García, D., Basile-Alvarez, M. R., Hoyos-Lázaro, A. E., Carrillo-Larco, R. M., Wexler, D. J., Manne-Goehler, J., & Seiglie, J. A. (2022). Diabetes-Related Excess Mortality in Mexico: A Comparative Analysis of National Death Registries Between 2017–2019 and 2020. Diabetes Care, 45(12), 2957–2966. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-0616

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). National diabetes statistics report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html

Galicia-Garcia, U., Benito-Vicente, A., Jebari, S., Larrea-Sebal, A., Siddiqi, H., Uribe, K. B., Ostolaza, H., & Martin, C. (2021). Pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(17), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21176275

International Diabetes Federation. (2025). Diabetes Facts & figures. International Diabetes Federation. https://idf.org/about-diabetes/diabetes-facts-figures/

Office of Minority Health. (2024, September 25). Diabetes and Hispanic Americans | Office of Minority Health. Minorityhealth.hhs.gov. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/diabetes-and-hispanic-americans

Vidal, T. M., Williams, C. A., Ramoutar, U. D., & Haffizulla, F. (2022). Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Latinx Populations in the United States: A Culturally Relevant Literature Review. Cureus, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.23173