 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Allison Diamant, MD, MSHS, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, UCLA, 911 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, (310) 794-0124, adiamant@mednet.ucla.edu, Susan Babey, PhD, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 10911 Weyburn Ave, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90024, and E. Richard Brown, PhD, Department of Community Health Sciences, Universtiy of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095.
Background: Diabetes poses a significant public health challenge because approximately one-third of individuals with the condition, or 5.9 million people, are believed to have diabetes but remain undiagnosed. These individuals are at risk for not receiving appropriate and necessary medical care.
Methods: The 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2001) is the largest statewide health survey conducted in the United States. CHIS 2001 was a telephone survey of over 55,000 households across California covering a broad range of public health topics. The sample was designed to provide statewide estimates for California's overall population, its major racial and ethnic groups, and a number of smaller ethnic groups.
Results: Among adults ages 18-64 not diagnosed with diabetes – after controlling for age, gender, education, income, and measures of access to care – Latinos, NHOPIs, AIANs, African Americans, those living in rural areas, and those who did not participate in regular physical activity were more likely to be obese and at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Among adolescents not diagnosed with diabetes – after controlling for age, education, income and physical activity – boys, African Americans, and those living in urban and rural areas were more likely to be overweight and therefore were more likely to be at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
Conclusions: The focus for all Californians, especially those at increased risk for diabetes, should be on minimizing the risks for and effects of diabetes. This can be done in two ways: prevention of diabetes and the effective management of diabetes among those who develop the condition.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.