Why is diabetes worse for minorities?

Previously studies have shown that when African Americans and Latinos get diabetes they tend to have it more severely than Caucasians, but there was very little understanding why. Recently new studies have shed some light on the situation, although new questions are also part of the mix. According to research by the University of Michigan the following is true, even when issues like income and access to health care are equal:

• African American diabetes patients are less likely than white ones to take their diabetes medication as prescribed.
• Latino diabetes patients are more likely than white ones to suffer from emotional distress related to the diagnosis.

But these findings still leave almost 80% of the racial differences in diabetes management unaccounted for, so unfortunately the mystery remains. But, on the bright side, every little bit helps -- if even just to give more focus to the researching!