Diabetes in Tarrant County: Populations Most at Risk, Barriers to Acquiring Care, and Resources Available for Disease Management

Abstract PurposeDiabetes mellitus is quickly becoming a public health crisis in the United States. As of 2015, 23.1 million adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with diabetes, with an estimated 1.5 million new cases diagnosed each year. The purpose of this research is to provide background information on diabetes in Tarrant county. We identified which populations are most at risk for being diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Type II, determined potential barriers to acquiring care, and searched for regional programs available for disease management. Materials and MethodsEpidemiological information regarding DM in Texas was acquired through searching the Texas Department of State Health Services for current census information, as well as the CDC for national data in order to compare regional statistics to the rest of the U.S. population. A web search for local resources was conducted and relevant information for five available organizations providing care for DM patients of Tarrant County is presented here. ResultsDiabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in Tarrant County. Diabetes prevalence is highest among Non-Hispanic African Americans (16%), followed by Hispanics (12%). Prevalence of diabetes in Tarrant county is also higher among adults who did not graduate from high school. In Tarrant county, 21.9% of the population is uninsured, compared to 12.2% nationally. Resources available in Tarrant county for disease management include; Tarrant County Diabetes Collaboration, HealthForMe Self Management Classes, United Way of Tarrant County, Texas Healthy Lifestyles Workshop, and JPS Diabetes Education program. ConclusionsIn Tarrant county diabetes prevalence is highest in African American and Hispanic populations. Barriers to acquiring care include lack of health insurance and lack of knowledge regarding proper nutrition. Various community resources are available to aide in management of diabetes.