Graduation Year

2019

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biology

Reader 1

Steffanie Guillermo

Reader 2

Jenna Monroy

Rights Information

© 2018 Kierra R. Mitchell

Abstract

Introduction: Rates of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) are steadily increasing among American youth, yet Black Americans are more likely to suffer from serious T1D-related complications caused by poor glycemic control. The aim of this thesis is to determine the external factors that are causing discrepancies in the development, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of T1D in Black youth.

Methods: Epidemiological studies were compiled from the American Diabetes Association, Center for Disease Control (CDC), International Diabetes Foundation (IDF), Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), and the Claremont Colleges Library network to identify the sociocultural aspects that negatively affect long-term glycemic control in Black youth.

Results: Studies indicate that Black youth with T1D are more likely to face disadvantages in treatment regimen which are attributed to insurance coverage, socioeconomic status, education level, and implicit bias. Most studies demonstrate that these factors result in poor glycemic control, which subsequently leads to severe dysglycemia-related complications later in life.

Conclusion and Discussion: Many Black youth who suffer from T1D receive insufficient healthcare, which is often exacerbated by a lack of social and economic resources. As a result, they may not have the means to maintain consistent, healthy glycemic levels. System-level changes are necessary to change the morbidity and mortality of T1D in Black youth. Future research should include the analysis of other racial minority groups in order to uncover additional institutional disparities.

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