Culturally competent care for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that interferes with the body’s ability to use blood glucose. Also called blood sugar, blood glucose is the main source of energy for cells throughout the body.

When a person has type 2 diabetes, the body gradually loses the ability to use a hormone called insulin, which is needed to move glucose from the bloodstream into cells. As a result, high amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream. Over time, this can lead to serious complications, including damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and nerves.

There is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but treatment can help control blood glucose levels and prevent complications. Treatment will include changes to diet and exercise habits, including monitoring how many carbohydrates you eat, increasing activity levels, and for many people, weight reduction. Many treatment plans also include medications. While treating type 2 diabetes can feel overwhelming, there are healthcare providers who can guide you and support you along the way.

Hispanic Americans and type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over 38 million people in the United States are living with diabetes, and type 2 diabetes is the most common type. Between 90 and 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

The risk of type 2 diabetes varies between different populations. This includes people with specific ethnic or cultural backgrounds. Compared to the non-Hispanic/Latino white population, Hispanic and Latino Americans are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and developing type 2 diabetes at a younger age. They are more likely to experience complications from type 2 diabetes and are more likely to die from complications related to type 2 diabetes.

These disparities are the result of several factors, including adopting Western diets, genetics, socioeconomic inequality, and access to healthcare.

While type 2 diabetes is a different experience for everyone, culturally competent care can improve treatment and management outcomes for people living with type 2 diabetes.

Culturally competent care and type 2 diabetes

Cultural competence is a healthcare provider's ability to recognize the ways that a person's race, ethnicity, language, and cultural background can affect healthcare needs, and to deliver care that meets those needs.

As a person living with type 2 diabetes or a person caring for someone living with type 2 diabetes, cultural competence is an important consideration when seeking treatment. For example, you may want to work with a healthcare provider who is familiar with your community, or you may seek out a healthcare provider who speaks the language you feel most comfortable speaking.

Cultural competence can be especially important when managing a condition like type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that requires ongoing care. It is also a condition where care must be tailored to a person’s individual health, needs, and identity.

Signs of culturally competent care in a healthcare setting include:

• You feel respected by your provider and the other staff members.
• You feel comfortable raising questions and concerns.
• You feel that your questions and concerns are taken seriously.
• Your healthcare provider is able to explain things in a way that you understand.
• You feel that you can be honest with your healthcare provider.
• You are able to communicate with your healthcare provider in a language you are comfortable and confident speaking.

Again, there is no treatment that can cure type 2 diabetes, but there are treatments that can control blood sugar levels, prevent complications, and help a person stay as healthy as possible. Your healthcare provider will be your best source of information during treatment, and it is worth the time and effort to find a healthcare provider that is right for you.