UCI Health leads the way in combating the growing epidemic of diabetes

'It is a full-blown health crisis demanding immediate attention,' says UCI Health expert

Orange, Calif. — As diabetes continues to rise at an alarming rate, becoming one of the most urgent chronic disease epidemics in the U.S. and worldwide, UCI Health is leading the way in the search for solutions.

Dr. Qin Yang, endocrinologist and the director of the UCI Health Diabetes Center, emphasizes the urgency in remediating the growing epidemic of diabetes.

“Diabetes is no longer a distant warning on the horizon. It is a full-blown health crisis demanding immediate attention,” he says. “If left unchecked, diabetes will overwhelm our healthcare system and devastate vulnerable communities.”

A commitment to diabetes care

In June 2025, UCI Health ― Orange, formerly known as UCI Medical Center, was designated a Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes by The Leapfrog Group and the American Diabetes Association.

The hospital is one of just 36 hospitals in the U.S., and the only one in Orange County, to earn this prestigious designation, highlighting the critical and complex inpatient care that UCI Health and its diabetes program provides to patients.

The Leapfrog Group and ADA aim to address the unique risks for diabetes faced by vulnerable populations, which includes 30% of all patients nationwide. The program combines the ADA breadth of resources and reach among the diabetes community with Leapfrog’s expertise in measurements, public reporting and engaging purchasers and the public to use these ratings to incentivize excellence.

Rising numbers, unequal impact

The total number of those across the globe living with diabetes is forecasted to double by 2050, affecting more than 1.3 billion people, according to research performed by the Global Bureau of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors. The escalating incidence is straining health systems and economies. As of 2024, more than 11% of the U.S. population has diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, almost 100 million of American adults have been diagnosed with prediabetes and even more have it and are unaware.

Certain populations bear a disproportionate burden of this disease, including Latino/a Americans, African Americans and people of South Asian descent. This is due to a combination of genetic predisposition, socioeconomic disparities, limited access to preventive care and cultural dietary patterns.

A 2023 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the annual growth rate of type 2 diabetes is highest among Latino/a and Black youth. These demographics encounter systemic barriers to early diagnosis, continuous management and education on preferred lifestyle modifications.

In urban centers, dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyles and rising obesity rates are leading to significant spikes in diabetes cases.

Older adults are also developing diabetes at high rates, particularly those 65 and older.

Health, financial consequences

The dire health consequences of diabetes are profound and devastating. Poorly managed diabetes significantly increases the risk of:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Kidney failure
• Blindness
• Lower-limb amputations
• Premature death

Diabetes can also lead to an erosion in quality of life and increased mental health issues such as depression.

The American Diabetes Association reports that the financial cost of diagnosed diabetes is staggering, reflecting both direct medical expenses and reduced productivity.

UC system research

In 2024, the University of California system led a study of the data of 114,774 adults with diabetes. Latino/a adults represented 22% of the number of patients studied in Lipoprotein(a) and Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk in a Multi-Ethnic Pooled Prospective Cohort.

Of those, 23% had heart disease, 21% had chronic kidney disease, 9% were in heart failure and 48% were clinically obese, with many more overweight.

Latino/a adults also had the poorest blood glucose control, with 4 in 10 having an A1c of 7% or higher. Just 45% had blood pressure at target and 32% had cholesterol at target.

Since its inception in late 2023, UC Irvine’s initiative to combat diabetes in the Latino community has made significant progress in addressing this escalating health crisis. Funding for this research was supported through this initiative.

“Poor control of glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol puts many Latino/a patients with diabetes at risk of heart attacks, heart failure and stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the greatest cause of death in persons with diabetes,” says Nathan D. Wong, a professor and director of the UCI Health Heart Disease Prevention Program, who led the study. He emphasizes that further research is required to determine the specific reasons for these findings and recommends efforts to improve the gaps in treatment and diabetes outcomes.

Preventive care

To address and eventually eradicate this insidious disease, a multifaceted approach is desperately needed. Healthcare initiatives need to prioritize prevention through widespread awareness and education on healthy diets, regular physical activity, and early screening, particularly in the higher-risk communities. Investments in primary care access, research into novel therapies and potential cures, and policies to address social determinants of health are essential mitigants.