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Diabetes Prevention in Hispanics

Karina Valencia

California State University, Channel Islands

HLTH 499 Section 2

Professor Winans

March 5, 2021
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Abstract

Diabetes prevention in Hispanics has been an ongoing research topic as new studies show

different ways to improve the health of these individuals. Hispanics are at higher risk than a

white person as their culture has a huge role in the way they take care of themselves. An example

of this is having bigger meals than the usual with big families. Having a plan such as a certain

amount of calorie intake or even exercise plan can significantly decrease the risk of Hispanics

getting diabetes. Having support from others also helps these individuals to continue the program

to eventually see positive feedback.

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Diabetes Prevention in Hispanics

One of the biggest health crises in the world include diabetes mellitus. I will be covering

and explaining the health crisis within diabetes and how it can be prevented within the Hispanic

communities. If there are programs out there for diabetics who are Hispanic, then these programs

should be showing good results. These programs should either be based off of a healthy diet or

physical activities that show these proven results to reduce the risk of getting diabetes as a

Hispanic person.

According to McCurley (2016), diabetes was being prevented by either glucose

regulation or weight regulation. Twelve of the participants from this study under the weight

regulation were able to reduce their weight significantly. Two from the glucose regulation were

also able to reduce their weight. In this study evidence was weak for the influence of physical

activity and dietary intake. It was also seen that something noticed in this study is that managing

stress and fatigue is needed for another study to reduce the risk of diabetes in Hispanics

(McCurley 2016).

The main focus in the second study is to prevent child obesity in schools that have

Spanish speaking families. This study believed if teaching the young how to have healthy

behaviors and lifestyles that it may decrease the chances of them getting diabetes. What was very

interesting about this study is that they taught the families how to be active and exercise in their

own home by simply using household items instead of actual gym equipment as that is

expensive. Not only that but food preparation was also taught in this studies class. Families were

given healthy snacks in-between exercising and shown how to make healthy snacks at home.

Interactive lectures were also given to both children and adults separately so they could let them

focus and engage in the health benefits give to them (Coleman 2010).
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In the third study Hispanic women who were pregnant and now going through

postpartum were given a fitness plan of exercising and healthy eating. This study came to light

because women who are going to pregnancy and even after pregnancy are at high risk of getting

diabetes, also specifically called GDM as you can only get this diabetes if you are pregnant.

These women were encouraged to exercise by getting using pedometers and having activity logs.

Their dietary change was encouraged by giving them a daily 1,500 calorie intake. This study

resulted in being innovative as it allowed prenatal and postpartum Hispanic women to reduce the

risk of getting diabetes (Chasan-Taber 2014).

In study four the key components to address diabetes in Hispanics was weight loss,

improved glucose regulation, dietary intake and physical activity. Feedback from the participants

were also taken into consideration as they are valuable to future studies. Participants were given

tools such as having food records for what they ate so they would have acceptability of

intervention materials. Some barriers found in this study were attendance as some participants

didn’t show because of work, transportation, and taking care of others. Results were not

necessarily displayed but it was found that it would be easier if participants were given option

such as participating in studies that were flexible to their schedules (Banna 2018).

In the last study it showed that the reduction of calorie intake and the increase of physical

activity has shown to be beneficial in the long term. Workplace programs have also shown to be

more accessible because it is brought to your own setting and available for you to join. This

workplace has Hispanic employees which participated in this study. This study also had a plan

set so there were no barriers for the participants such as transportation because they were already

at work so that was not an issue for attendance. Other barriers which were conquered by this

study is participation, babysitting services, family responsibilities, and lack of gym. By doing
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this an increase in positive results were given showing that many were living a healthier lifestyle

by eating healthier and exercising. Having this setting at work allowed there to be support for the

employees as they were encouraged by their supervisors and other work colleagues (Brown

2015).

In conclusion, there were many similar findings which led to positive feedback. Diet and

exercising regulates one’s weight and can lead to a healthy lifestyle and the decrease of diabetes

as Hispanics are at a higher risk. It was also shown that having supports from those around you

allowed participants to see more results as they were motivated. Some barriers that did come up

were transportation, participation, and caregiving but this was solved in study five as the

program in the workplace was ready to face these obstacles. It was shown that by having access

to these programs at work can show improvements in Hispanic workers from becoming

diabetics. This study continues to grow and see positive results, but further research is still

needed to be able to get more Hispanics to try to reduce their risk.

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References

Banna, Jinan. (2018). Considerations for evaluation of diabetes prevention programs in Hispanic

adults in the United States. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 12(1), 21–24.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827617726503

Brown, Sharon A, García, Alexandra A, Steinhardt, Mary A, Guevara, Henry, Moore, Claire,

Brown, Adama, & Winter, Mary A. (2015). Culturally tailored diabetes prevention in the

workplace. The Diabetes Educator, 41(2), 175–183.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0145721714567233

Chasan-Taber, Lisa, Marcus, Bess H, Rosal, Milagros C, Tucker, Katherine L, Hartman, Sheri J,

Pekow, Penelope, Braun, Barry, Moore Simas, Tiffany A, Solomon, Caren G, Manson,

Joann E, & Markenson, Glenn. (2014). Estudio parto: postpartum diabetes prevention

program for hispanic women with abnormal glucose tolerance in pregnancy: a

randomised controlled trial - study protocol. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 14(1), 100–

100. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-100

Coleman, Karen J, Ocana, Leticia L, Walker, Chris, Araujo, Rachel A, Gutierrez, Veronica,

Shordon, Maggie, Oratowski-Coleman, Jesica, & Philis-Tsimikas, Athena. (2010).

Outcomes from a culturally tailored diabetes prevention program in Hispanic families

from a low-income school: Horton Hawks Stay Healthy (HHSH). The Diabetes

Educator, 36(5), 784–792. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145721710377360

McCurley, Jessica L., MS, Gutierrez, Angela P., MS, & Gallo, Linda C., PhD. (2016). Diabetes

prevention in U.S. Hispanic adults: A systematic review of culturally tailored

interventions. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 52(4), 519–529.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2016.10.028
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Appendix A

Table 3. Raw Mean Differences and Effect Sizes for Primary Clinical Outcomes

McCurley 2016
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Appendix B

Table 1. Parent and Child Health Outcomes

Coleman 2010
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Appendix C

Table 1. Variables collected at assessment time points

Chasan-Taber 2014