Disparities exist in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have estimated total (diagnosed and undiagnosed) diabetes prevalence among adults in the United States as follows:

10.7% (23.5 million) of all adults in 20079.8% (14.9 million) of non-Hispanic whites in 200714.7% (3.7 million) of non-Hispanic blacks in 200713.7% of Hispanics in 2005

Obesity rates also vary by race/ethnicity, gender, and age. For example, for women aged 20 years and older between 2003 and 2006, age-adjusted obesity prevalence varied as follows:

54.3% of non-Hispanic black women41.8% of women of Mexican origin31.6% of non-Hispanic white women

"There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed and possibly prevented," Puckrein said. "Policymakers could help lower the devastating impact of diabetes by using these maps in resourcing decisions that affect their constituents."

D-ATLAS maps are available through a password-protected link from the NMQF web site (www.nmqf). Licenses to access the D-ATLAS are obtained through the NMQF and are available to healthcare advocacy groups, lawmakers and members of the executive and judicial branches.

SOURCE National Minority Quality Forum