Lack of Funding for Research Affecting Minorities With Diabetes, American Diabetes Association and Minority Advocacy Groups Say
The American Diabetes Association in conjunction with the Congressional Tri-Caucus -- made up of the black, Hispanic and Asian-American/Pacific Islander caucuses -- at a congressional briefing on Tuesday discussed how diabetes is affecting minority communities, Scripps Howard/Kansas City infoZine reports.
An estimated 20.8 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and 6.2 million of them are unaware of their condition, according to ADA. In addition, minorities are more likely than whites to be diagnosed with the condition -- 13.3% of blacks and 9.5% of Hispanics have diabetes, Scripps Howard/infoZine reports.
Natalie Carroll, past president of the National Medical Association, at the briefing said blacks have higher rates of diabetes-related leg amputations because they are not given other treatment options, such as revascularization.
Jeffrey Caballero, executive director of the Asian-American and Pacific Community Health Organizations, discussed problems with diabetes outreach efforts to Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. He added that limited-English proficiency and a lack of health insurance also contribute to the problem.
Aida Giachello, a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago's Jane Addams College of Social Work, said that poverty and diabetes are linked and limited access to healthy foods in poorer communities gives residents fewer options.
"Funding in recent years has been pretty static. ... We need an increase," Carroll said (Petty, Scripps Howard/Kansas City infoZine, 5/28).