Hispanics and Diabetes Clinical Trials: What the Data Reveals
Hispanics and diabetes clinical trials are two subjects that intersect in ways the medical research community has only recently begun to examine with the specificity they deserve. People with Hispanic or Latino backgrounds are at significantly higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than non Hispanic Caucasians. This has been established for years. What has been less examined is the variation within Hispanic subgroups and the persistent gap in clinical trial representation that leaves millions of people without research that reflects their specific biology and lived experience.The connection between Hispanics and diabetes clinical trials is therefore not just a matter of equity but of scientific accuracy.
Diabetes Prevalence Among Hispanic Communities
A landmark study from the Hispanic Community Health Study and Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) produced findings that challenge the practice of treating all Hispanic and Latino populations as a single homogeneous group. The study found that the prevalence of diabetes varies considerably across Hispanic subgroups, and that collapsing all individuals into one category obscures these differences in ways that undermine both research quality and clinical care.
“The differences in diabetes and obesity prevalence among Latino subgroups are masked when all individuals are combined into a single group,” noted the Diabetes Care Journal in its analysis of the study findings.
The overall prevalence of diabetes among all Hispanic and Latino groups was approximately 16.9 percent for both men and women, compared to 10.2 percent among non Hispanic whites. The study also documented low rates of diabetes control and health insurance coverage across Hispanic populations, compounding the burden of the disease.
Prevalence rose sharply with age, reaching nearly 50 percent among Hispanic and Latino individuals by the time they reached 70 years old, with a rate of 50 percent in women and 44.3 percent in men. The study also identified a counterintuitive finding regarding immigration: the longer a person had lived in the United States, the more likely they were to develop diabetes. Higher levels of education and income, by contrast, were associated with lower diabetes risk.
Additional research has linked work related stress to diabetes risk. An analysis of 125,000 European adults found a 1.15 times increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes among both men and women experiencing job strain, independent of other risk factors. These findings reinforce the importance of including socioeconomic and occupational factors in diabetes research design.
Why Hispanics and Diabetes Clinical Trials Representation Matters
There are approximately 58.2 million Hispanic people living in the United States, representing more than 17 percent of the total population. Since 2015, Hispanics have been the largest minority group in the country. States where Hispanics represent more than 30 percent of the population include Arizona at 30.3%, California at 38.4%, New Mexico at 47.4%, and Texas at 38.4%. More than one million Hispanic residents live in each of eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
Despite this scale, Hispanic communities remain dramatically underrepresented in Hispanics and diabetes clinical trials and in clinical research more broadly. This underrepresentation has real consequences. Treatments developed and tested primarily in non Hispanic populations may perform differently in Hispanic patients due to genetic, metabolic, and lifestyle differences. Without adequate Hispanic representation in trials, physicians cannot be confident that dosing recommendations, efficacy data, and safety profiles apply equally to their Hispanic patients.
More than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and every 23 seconds another person receives a new diagnosis. Given the disproportionate burden that Hispanic communities carry, inadequate representation in Hispanics and diabetes clinical trials produces research gaps with direct consequences for patient outcomes. Closing this gap requires sponsors to prioritize Hispanics and diabetes clinical trials as a strategic enrollment objective, not an afterthought.
The Role of Diversity in Clinical Research Design
The FDA has established clear mandates for demographic subgroup representation in clinical trial data, including sex, age, race, and ethnicity. Meeting these standards requires intentional outreach to communities that have historically been excluded, as well as research infrastructure that is accessible to patients who may face barriers related to language, transportation, insurance, or proximity to trial sites.
FOMAT is committed to addressing this gap. Our investigator network serves diverse communities across the United States and Latin America, with particular emphasis on reaching Hispanic populations in regions where diabetes prevalence is high and clinical trial access has historically been limited.
To learn more about our active studies including diabetes and metabolic research, or to explore our diversity capabilities, visit fomatmedical.com. For more information on diabetes in Hispanic communities, visit Mayo Clinic.