Diabetes disproportionately affects the Latino/a community in Orange County, which comprises 34% of the local population.
Diabetes is a significant health challenge across California, where approximately one in 10 adults are diagnosed with the disease.
Another one in three adults are considered prediabetic, with hemoglobin A1C levels between 5.7% and 6.4%. The financial burden of diabetes is notable, with medical expenses for adults with diabetes estimated to be 2.3 times greater than those without the disease.
Focus on the Latino/a community
Diabetes disproportionately affects the Latino/a community in Orange County, which comprises 34% of the local population.
A UCI Health study conducted between January 2022 and June 2023 under the leadership of UCI heart disease expert Nathan Wong, MPH, PhD, professor and director of the Heart Disease Prevention Program, found that 18.3% of Latino adult patients suffer from diabetes, which is significantly higher than the 11.8% prevalence among non-Latino patients. Additionally, Latino/a patients with diabetes are on average eight years younger than their non-Latino/a counterparts. Common co-morbidities include cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and heart failure.
Expert insights
Dr. Alpesh N. Amin, associate dean for Clinical Transformation, UCI Health and co-chair of UCI Diabetes Latino Community Initiative, highlights that the diabetes epidemic within the Latino/a community is exacerbated by genetic predispositions, cultural dietary habits, socioeconomic challenges, and limited healthcare access.
"Addressing these disparities is crucial for improving health outcomes in this community," said Amin.
Innovative approaches and solutions
Since its inception in 2023, the initiative to combat diabetes in the Latino/a community at UCI has utilized Epic software to enhance the delivery of guideline-directed medical therapy, identifying and addressing disparities in diabetes care. Best practice advisories within the software prompt healthcare providers to tailor treatments based on individual patient needs and risk profiles.
Cultural and lifestyle considerations
Dr. Qin Yang, endocrinologist and the director of UCI Health Diabetes Center, emphasizes the role of lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and obesity in exacerbating diabetes risk. "Culturally tailored interventions, improved access to preventative care, education on healthy living, and robust community support are essential to manage and reduce diabetes incidence effectively," says Yang.
Holistic healthcare approach
Dr. José Mayorga, executive director of the UCI Health Family Health Centers in Santa Ana and Anaheim, leads the clinical treatment innovations for the Latino/a community.
The initiative adopts a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, integrating social, medical, oral, and behavioral health in a group medical visit conducted in Spanish. These sessions involve a series of eight weekly meetings with experts covering diabetic topics, emphasizing the impact of mental health and the importance of diet, with live demonstrations of healthy, culturally-relevant meal preparations. Graduates of this program report improved dietary habits and a better understanding of diabetes management.
Community engagement, clinical innovation and research at UCI Health are poised to significantly influence diabetes care strategies in Orange County's Latino community, reaffirming UC Irvine's commitment to public health and service to its diverse population.
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About the UCI-OC Alliance
Established in 2021, the UCI-OC Alliance supports UCI as a Hispanic-thriving university. Trustee-guided and university-driven, the Alliance is a community organization that serves Orange County by connecting local leaders and businesses with UCI to advance Latinx students through mentorships, scholarships, internships, program support, corporate partnerships, special events and initiatives and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting UCI-OC Alliance.
About the University of California, Irvine
Founded in 1965, UCI is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.
