Diabetes and Depression in the Hispanic/Latino Community

The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is not homogenous within subgroups of the Hispanic population, but instead ranges from as low as 7.6% for Cubans to as high as 13.3 and 13.8% for Puerto Rican and Mexican Americans, respectively.1 Disparities in some diabetes-related complications are also higher...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical diabetes 2013-01, Vol.31 (1), p.43-45
Main Authors: Colon, Eduardo, Giachello, Aida, McIver, LaShawn, Pacheco, Guadalupe, Vela, Leonel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Complications and side effects
Depression, Mental
Diabetes
Hispanic Americans
Medical research
Mental depression
Risk factors
Studies
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Summary:The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is not homogenous within subgroups of the Hispanic population, but instead ranges from as low as 7.6% for Cubans to as high as 13.3 and 13.8% for Puerto Rican and Mexican Americans, respectively.1 Disparities in some diabetes-related complications are also higher among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites.2·' The prevalence rates for depression are significantly higher among adults with diabetes than among those without diabetes.4 People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to experience depression.4 Comorbid depression affects 15-30% of all adults with diabetes and is associated with more diabetesrelated symptoms, worse glycémie control, poorer self-management (worse adherence to dietary and medication recommendations, less physical activity, and less frequent glucose monitoring and foot care),' higher prevalence of complications, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality.6 '"Despite that, fewer than 25% of people with diabetes and depression are adequately treated.6·"·12 Limited data exist about the prevalence of comorbid depression among Hispanics. Some studies argue that, in Hispanic women, there is a correlation between depression and exposure to a number of psychosocial and environmental stressors, including poverty, stress associated with single parenting, gender roles, low educational achievement, social isolation, language barriers, migration, and the processes associated with acculturation and adaptation.16 Hispanics are frequently described as having strong family ties (a concept expressed as familialismo)6l7that protect them from depression and other mental health conditions.
ISSN:0891-8929
1945-4953
DOI:10.2337/diaclin.31.1.43