Diabetes among Hispanics--Los Angeles County, California, 2002-2003.

Diabetes is associated with severe morbidity and premature death and affects U.S. Hispanics disproportionately. Although regional variation in diabetes prevalence has been observed among Hispanics, limited information is available on how sociodemographic factors affect the risk for diabetes among Hispanics in urban settings. Los Angeles County (LAC), California, has the largest urban Hispanic population in the United States. To assess the prevalence of diabetes among Hispanic adults in LAC and to examine variations in diabetes prevalence across sociodemographic groups in this population, the LAC Department of Health Services analyzed data from the 2002-2003 LAC Health Survey (LACHS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicate that the prevalence of diabetes is approximately two times higher among Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites and is strongly associated with living below poverty level. These findings underscore the need to provide additional diabetes prevention and treatment interventions for Hispanics in LAC, particularly those living in poverty.