A Missed Screening Opportunity for Diabetes

Excerpt

Diabetes disproportionately affects members of racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S.1 Compared to non-Hispanic whites (11.3%), the age-standardized prevalence of total diabetes is higher for Asian Americans (20.6%), Hispanic Americans (22.6%), and non-Hispanic blacks (21.8%).2 Given the burden of diabetes within these specific populations, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) revised its recommendations in 2014 to include screening for type 2 diabetes among certain racial and ethnic minority groups (African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders).1 Despite these recommendations, there is evidence that the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes is higher among Asian Americans (50.9%) and Hispanic Americans (49.0%) compared to all other racial and ethnic minority groups.2 Although Asian Americans represent only 4.8% of the U.S. population, they are the fastest-growing racial group in the country, based on the 2010 Census.3 …