New estimates find 1 in 6 Hispanic and Asian adults have diabetes or prediabetes

A new study from CDC scientists provides the first national estimates of the prevalence of diabetes across Hispanic and Asian populations in the U.S. Using national health survey data from 2011-2016, the scientists say that 16% of Hispanic and Asian adults have some form of diabetes or prediabetes. In contrast, the prevalence of these conditions among white adults is 13%, and more than 18% among black adults. Within the Hispanic population, those from Mexico had the highest rates, while South Asians were most likely among the Asian population to have diabetes or prediabetes. Hispanics and Asians were more likely to have undiagnosed diabetes than other racial groups — researchers suggest this could be because some diabetes tests may not be capturing underlying physiological differences among the different populations.