Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains one of the most widespread chronic health conditions in the US population, endangering millions of people annually. However, while a high risk for every individual, T2DM has a variety of culturally and ethnically specific risk factors that disproportionally affect minority populations nationwide. The purpose of this article analysis is to dwell on scholarly evidence that raises the question of ethical and cultural aspects of T2DM prevalence in minorities.
The first study addresses the notion of Hispanic and Latino culture’s predisposition to T2DM in the US. Thus, according to Aguayo-Mazzucato et al. (2019), “the incidence and prevalence of T2D and gestational diabetes are higher in the Hispanic population across all age groups” (p. 7). The authors intended to systemically analyze the roots of such a socio-cultural disparity. The findings demonstrate both physical and socio-economic predeterminers of higher T2DM prevalence in the Hispanic population. The biological factors include higher obesity rates, insulin resistance, genetic predisposition to the disease, and glucose intolerance (Aguayo-Mazzucato et al., 2019). The source is credible because it is a scholarly article published in a peer-reviewed medical journal and has no conflict of interest and third-party funding. The study presents an exceptional value to the research topic because it explicitly demonstrates how one cultural group is most affected by the issue of T2DM.
The second research article dwells on both cultural and ethical issues faced by the Latino population with T2DM. Tyson et al. (2019) focused on the experiences of the Latino farmer community in rural areas of Florida. After conducting nearly 30 interviews, the researchers found that while aware of their health status and medical recommendations, respondents were unable to follow professional advice and resorted to less efficient alternative methods of T2DM management (Tyson et al., 2019). The barriers to proper management included “high cost of glucometer test strips and difficulty adhering to a diabetic diet…[and] limited income” (Tyson et al., 2019, p. 205). This scholarly article shall be considered credible because it was published in a peer-reviewed journal and written by professors of social studies and cultural minority studies. The research is useful due to the contribution of cultural and socio-ethical barriers to T2DM management in minorities.
The third article dwells on the ethical issue of racial and ethnic discrimination among Latino patients with T2DM. LeBrón et al. (2019) researched the interrelation between ethnic discrimination, depressive symptoms, diabetes-related distress, and HbA1c levels. Although no specific correlation was found directly between discrimination and HbA1c, diabetes-related distress served as a mediating factor (LeBrón et al., 2019). According to the findings, “racial/ethnic discrimination is detrimental to health for Latinos with diabetes” (LeBrón et al., 2019, p. 105). This article is credible because it is a peer-reviewed publication with no conflict of interest claim and no external funding. The research plays a critical role in showcasing evidence of ethical issues and their implications for T2DM risk and management in ethnic and racial minorities.
The evidence demonstrated above justifies the fact that T2DM management in minorities is more complex and challenging due to socio-economic and cultural peculiarities of disease treatment. It is evident in the example of the Latino population in the US that despite an unprecedently higher T2DM predisposition, access to treatment is extremely difficult. Hence, further research is needed to establish the patterns of combating such a negative tendency.
References
Aguayo‐Mazzucato, C., Diaque, P., Hernandez, S., Rosas, S., Kostic, A., & Caballero, A. E. (2019). Understanding the growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the Hispanic population living in the United States. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 35(2).
LeBrón, A. M., Spencer, M., Kieffer, E., Sinco, B., & Palmisano, G. (2019). Racial/ethnic discrimination and diabetes-related outcomes among Latinos with type 2 diabetes. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 21(1), 105-114.
Tyson, D. M., Arriola, N. B., Medina-Ramirez, P., Đào, L. U., Smith, C. A., & Livingston, T. (2019). “You have to control it however you can”: type 2 diabetes management in a Hispanic farmworker community in rural Florida. Human Organization, 78(3), 205-217.