Diabetes in the Hispanic Elderly Population
Abstract
Diabetes is prevalent among the elderly Latino community. The process of accepting and acknowledging the seriousness of having this condition can have a mental effect on the elder. There are factors that need to be taken into account that will change for the typical Latino elder living in the central valley. Since much of the Latino community in the central valley works in agriculture, income is low and adherence to medication becomes difficult. Economic factors directly affect their health. The family who is associated with the diabetes patient will suffer as well. Dietary and lifestyle changes can help prevent long term medical conditions and help an elder Latino take control of their life by controlling their diabetes.
Effects of Diabetes in Elderly Latinos
As far as humans are concerned, time only flows in one direction. From the point of conception, humans are continuously aging. Once we have reached the pinnacle of our physical size, our body and health begins to deteriorate. Although there are preventative measures to stunt our decay, no one is exempt from aging and eventual death. Some diseases however cannot be prevented, rather they can only be controlled. Diabetes type 2 is an example of such a disease. Genetics play a huge part in the prevalence of the disease and one ethnic group has a high prevalence of diabetes; Latinos. Elderly Latinos are by far the most severely impacted group within the culture. The disease has impacts throughout the entire life of the Latino’s elderly; socially, economically, and of course lifestyle. The following studies have been done based on the Latinos living in the United States. Acceptance by the elderly that they have a life threating condition may come as a shock. Based on a study, many elderly Latinos described the disease as frightening (Coronado, page 5). They compared the disease to HIV and cancer. To become diagnosed with a disease which a person relates to incurable conditions can be a traumatic
Diabetes is prevalent among the elderly Latino community. The process of accepting and acknowledging the seriousness of having this condition can have a mental effect on the elder. There are factors that need to be taken into account that will change for the typical Latino elder living in the central valley. Since much of the Latino community in the central valley works in agriculture, income is low and adherence to medication becomes difficult. Economic factors directly affect their health. The family who is associated with the diabetes patient will suffer as well. Dietary and lifestyle changes can help prevent long term medical conditions and help an elder Latino take control of their life by controlling their diabetes.
Effects of Diabetes in Elderly Latinos
As far as humans are concerned, time only flows in one direction. From the point of conception, humans are continuously aging. Once we have reached the pinnacle of our physical size, our body and health begins to deteriorate. Although there are preventative measures to stunt our decay, no one is exempt from aging and eventual death. Some diseases however cannot be prevented, rather they can only be controlled. Diabetes type 2 is an example of such a disease. Genetics play a huge part in the prevalence of the disease and one ethnic group has a high prevalence of diabetes; Latinos. Elderly Latinos are by far the most severely impacted group within the culture. The disease has impacts throughout the entire life of the Latino’s elderly; socially, economically, and of course lifestyle. The following studies have been done based on the Latinos living in the United States. Acceptance by the elderly that they have a life threating condition may come as a shock. Based on a study, many elderly Latinos described the disease as frightening (Coronado, page 5). They compared the disease to HIV and cancer. To become diagnosed with a disease which a person relates to incurable conditions can be a traumatic
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