Type 2 diabetes in people of color.

Type 2 diabetes is a major public health concern for people of color throughout the United States. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among African-Americans, Hispanics and American Indian/Alaskan Natives is from two to six times greater than that of the US non-Hispanic white population. Rates of end-stage renal disease, amputations, and diabetic retinopathy are also significantly higher. The medical risk factors of familial history, insulin resistance, obesity, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and physical inactivity are the same for all populations. The disproportionate impact of diabetes in people of color may be because of an interaction of genetic risk factors and environmental factors. Recognizing the impact of culture in disease management and self-care practices can improve diabetes care.