American Diabetes Month - Washington’s Latino Community

Diabetes affects millions of Americans, about 38.4 million U.S. residents (11.6% of the population) have diabetes (CDC, 2024), and many more have prediabetes. 1 in 3 adults in Washington state has prediabetes (doh.wa.gov), meaning they have elevated blood sugar and are at much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Early action is key: lifestyle change programs can dramatically reduce risk (one landmark study found a 58% lower incidence over 3 years in a structured program (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2021).

Hispanic/Latino adults bear a disproportionate burden of diabetes. National data show adult Latinos have higher diabetes rates than the general population; about 11.3% of Hispanic adults are diagnosed versus 10.0% overall (a 13% higher rate) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2021). In Washington’s largely Latino Yakima Valley, diabetes prevalence was 30% higher than in non-Latino whites (Ceballos, 2015). Latinos often face barriers to care by way of language accessibility, insurance coverage,  or access to healthy food that worsen outcomes (Ochoa, 2014). For example, King County data show nearly half (49%) of Latino families with children experience food insecurity – far above the 7% rate for white families (Ochoa, 2014). Complications are common: Mexican‑Americans have about 70% higher rates of kidney failure from diabetes and roughly 50% higher mortality risk than non‑Hispanic whites (Ochoa, 2014). Diabetes is the 5th leading cause of death among U.S. Latinos (Ochoa, 2014).

Prevention and Resources: The good news is diabetes can often be prevented or delayed. Recognizing risk factors is crucial.

  • Take this diabetes risk test from the ADA and CDC offered in both Spanish or English or see your doctor.

  • For Washington residents with prediabetes, the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) offers lifestyle-change classes (weekly, then monthly meetings) that have been shown to cut diabetes risk by roughly 50–60%.

    • Washington Department of Health urges people at risk to find an NDPP class via www.wa211.org or by calling 211 (24/7 helpline, Español disponible) (doh.wa.gov).

The state also offers chronic disease management programs: for instance, a six-week “Tomando control de su salud” workshop (in Spanish) helps people with diabetes and other conditions learn self-care (doh.wa.gov). Health care providers can bill Medicaid for diabetes education, and many community clinics (Sea Mar CHCs, etc.) offer free or low-cost counseling. Local initiatives include the University of Washington’s Latinx Diabetes Clinic (opened 2020) to provide culturally-tailored care and education to Latino patients (mednews.uw.edu.)

For reliable information and support, trusted resources include the CDC and NIH websites, and MedlinePlus (which has extensive Spanish diabetes content (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, 2025). The American Diabetes Association also has guidance and a free online risk calculator in Spanish (American Diabetes Association, 2024). During American Diabetes Month, take a moment to learn your risk, get screened, and share resources. Prevention programs and education can protect your health.

CHA Washington