Psychosocial factors and ethnic disparities in diabetes diagnosis and treatment among older adults.

This study examined diabetes awareness, diagnosis, and social support among Mexican Americans, African Americans, other Hispanic people, and white people living in the United States. Using a national sample of people age 60 and older, three groups were formed based on serum glucose level and diagnosis of diabetes: those who were unaware that their serum glucose level was greater than 115 mg/dl (no diagnosis), those with a diabetes diagnosis, and those with normal glucose (no diagnosis). Mexican Americans were the most likely to have a diagnosis, had the highest mean glucose levels, and, together with white people, were most likely to be classified as unaware. Mexican Americans and other Hispanic people had the lowest levels of social support and affiliation on four out of five measures.