Diabetes in Ethnically Diverse Youth: Disparate Burden and Intervention Approaches

There is a rising prevalence of diabetes in youth and children, and the burden of this epidemic has shifted from primarily one affecting white youth to now affecting multiple ethnicities. As the incidence and prevalence of diabetes rise in ethnically diverse youth, indices of health and care in these populations are important to examine to understand the state of disparities and address them. Research reviewed indicates that there is evidence of disparities in glycemic control, as well as shortand long-term complications. Multisystemic factors contributing to these disparities include: 1) individual risk factors, 2) contextual risk factors, and 3) systemic risk factors. Interventions developed specifically to address these disparities, those that are tailored for these groups, and those that simply include ethnically diverse youth in their analyses are discussed below. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.