Support Provided by Caregivers for Community-Dwelling Diabetic Hispanic Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Comorbid Conditions

Abstract

Diabetes is an age-related chronic health condition and a major public health concern. Diabetes is one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality and a major contributing factor to dementia. Recent research reveals that Hispanic Americans are at an increased risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, dementia, and obesity. Recent research also revealed that diabetes develops at least ten years earlier in Hispanics and Latinos than in neighboring non-Hispanic whites. Furthermore, the management of diabetes and providing necessary/timely support is a challenging task for healthcare professionals. Caregiver support is an emerging area of research for people with diabetes, mainly family caregiver support work for Hispanic and Native Americans. Our article discusses several aspects of diabetes, factors associated with diabetes among Hispanics, its management, and how caregivers can support individuals with diabetes.

Impact of Diabetes, Depression in Dementia

“…Comorbidities such as chronic diabetes, depression, hypertension, and obesity are closely associated with dementia. Diabetes is a prolonged health condition characterized by a protracted impairment in the utilization of blood glucose within the body; the regulation of blood glucose is governed by insulin, a hypoglycemic hormone [5]. Historically, the emphasis in diabetes management has centered on addressing conventional complications such as diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular diseases [6].…”