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Very often Latino patients have pre-conceived ideas on the etiology, physiology, diagnosis and treatment
of diabetes. It is quite common to hear from a Latino patient the association of certain emotional events,
such as “Susto,” or frightening experience, or “Coraje,” or sudden anger, after the diagnosis of diabetes.
Many patients also link diabetes with religious beliefs such as fate and fatalism, destiny, bad luck, and
even feelings of guilt and lack of hope.
It is also quite common that patients from this ethnic group seek alternative medicine sources such
as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and this usually precedes the consultation with a
physician or health care provider.
Usually patients with diabetes use CAM therapies in the hopes of improving well-being, reducing
symptoms or controlling glucose levels. There is a certain belief that natural medicine can cure or treat
diabetes better than regular medicine. Herbal remedies can be used instead of prescription medications.
It is very important for the patient to tell the health care provider about all medications including CAM
remedies or other substances used.
A survey that evaluated the use of alternative medicine among patients with diabetes found that about
95% of the respondents used some type of complementary alternative medicine or remedy. Various
ethnic groups were included. Among Latinos, the most commonly used alternative medicines were herbal remedies and supplements, used by almost 76% of patients. Other commonly used alternative
remedies were the prickly pear cactus, multivitamins, vitamin E, aloe vera and glucosamine. American
ginseng and trumpet flower were used by a small percentage of respondents. As you can see from the
following graph, CAM use is very frequent among patients with diabetes.
According to several surveys, many Latinos have experienced health disparities in terms of diabetes care.
Almost 66% of Latinos have a hemoglobin A1c level higher than 7 and this was significantly different
from other ethnic groups, specifically non-Hispanic Whites. Latinos also receive more oral diabetes
medication or insulin than non-Hispanic Whites. Only 20% of the members of this group self-monitor
their glucose in comparison to almost 45% in non-Hispanic Whites. Latinos also face lower rates of eye
examinations, blood pressure and cholesterol checks than non-Latino groups. And Latinos and other
minorities are less likely to receive dietary counseling than non-Hispanic Whites.
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