Diabetes Burden among Latinos

Flavia Andrade, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Latin American countries have experienced exceptional increases in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and larger increases are expected for the next decades. There are many explanations to the fast rise of diabetes (and obesity) in less developed countries: rapid economic development, modernization, urbanization, socioeconomic inequality, stress, exposure to environmental toxins, genetic predisposition, and aging. Moreover, Latinos in the United States also have higher prevalence rates of diabetes. In this paper, I use the compartment model as described by Manton and Stallard (1988) and Verdecchia and Capocaccia (1988). I estimate the incidence and prevalence of diabetes among Latinos and compare these estimates with previous results in the literature. In order to estimate incidence and prevalence rates, I use a variety of available data. The evaluation of mortality trends also provides inputs to the modelling. Because most of Latinos with diabetes are adults, the study focuses on individuals aged 20 years and over.