Latino Diabetes Initiative

Joslin Diabetes Center launched the Latino Diabetes Initiative in July 2002. The Latino Initiative is part of the world renowned Joslin Clinic, which means that patients receive the highest quality education and clinical care. 

Latino Clinic JoslinCare^TM begins with state-of-the-art medical care, sequenced diabetes education and a unique focus on personalized nutrition therapy. But it doesn't end there. We follow up with specialized cultural, linguistic and physiological approaches tailored to each individual. We want our patients to feel welcome and to experience the comfort that comes from knowing they've been understood. 

The Initiative integrates the following activities to improve health outcomes for Latinos living with diabetes and for those at risk for the disease:

• culturally appropriate diabetes care and education
• clinical research
• professional and provider education 
• community outreach

The Latino Diabetes Initiative welcomes philanthropic support. Each contribution advances our mission to improve care, advance research, and provide education and outreach to the Latino community. How to Give.

Latino Diabetes Initiative Facts

• Since the program's inception, there have been over 3,411 patient visits to the Latino Clinic in the form of clinical encounters as well as individual and group education sessions.

• The Initiative has developed unique patient education tools, including a program specifically designed for low health literacy patients. Rosa's Story is an audio-CD with an accompanying booklet and a provider manual to educate patients and their families in basic aspects of diabetes care and prevention.

• Through community outreach we have reached hundreds of Latinos living in the Boston area. The Initiative has participated in a number of health fairs and conferences to raise awareness about diabetes within medically underserved communities of Boston, as well as to help advocate for minorities within public health forums.

• The Initiative's clinical research studies focus on identifying and addressing multiple medical, social and cultural factors that influence a patient's adherence to a treatment plan. Past studies include research on endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in the Latino population and the most recent study is focuses on identifying candidate genes for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the Latino Clinic's population.

• More than 3,500 health professionals have attended nationwide Joslin Continuing Medical Education programs, offering provider education on culturally competent approaches to caring for the Latino population. The Initiative has also hosted several health care professionals and students from locations including Argentina, Spain, Venezuela, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Risks for Latinos

• Latinos are the fastest growing and largest minority group in the United States.
• Their risk of developing diabetes is 1 1/2 times greater than non-Latino White Americans.
• A Latino child born today has a 50% chance of developing diabetes in his/her lifetime.
• Over 10% of all Latinos in the U.S. have diabetes (1/3 of whom remain undiagnosed).
• Latinos aged 50 and older have substantially higher rates of diabetes (24-30%).
• 25% of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans over 45 have diabetes.

An Overview of Diabetes