Self-reported prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics--United States, 1994-1997.

Diabetes disproportionately affects the Hispanic population in the United States. Most diabetes studies that focused on Hispanics have been conducted among Mexican Americans and have found that approximately one out of every 10 persons aged > or =20 years has diabetes. However, the U.S. Hispanic population comprises many ethnically distinct groups that tend to be regionally concentrated. CDC analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to assess the prevalence of diabetes among Hispanic adults in the United States and Puerto Rico. This report presents the findings of this analysis, which indicate that the prevalence of diabetes among U.S. Hispanics is approximately twice the prevalence among non-Hispanic whites and varies by geographic location and education.