Healthcare, self-care, and health status of immigrants and non-immigrants with type 2 diabetes in the Canadian Community Health Surveys.
OBJECTIVE
To identify healthcare, self-care, and health status disparities between immigrants and non-immigrants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Canada.


METHODS
Immigrants and non-immigrants with T2DM were compared in the nationally representative 2005 and 2007 Canadian Community Health Surveys (N = 7658 representing 1,205,000 in 2005; N = 3605 representing 1,446,000 in 2007).


RESULTS
No significant differences existed between immigrants and non-immigrants with T2DM in annual glycated hemoglobin testing, foot examination by a physician, urine protein testing, or eye examinations. Among self-care measures, immigrants were less likely to perform foot self-examination at least weekly (OR = 0.70 [0.50, 0.98] in 2005; OR = 0.65 [0.47, 0.91] in 2007) or smoke (OR = 0.63 [0.45, 0.87] in 2005; OR = 0.44 [0.25, 0.77] in 2007), but there were no differences in self-monitoring of blood glucose or physical inactivity. With respect to health status, immigrants were less likely to have a chronic condition in addition to T2DM (OR = 0.68 [0.54, 0.86] in 2005; OR = 0.59 [0.41, 0.84] in 2007), but there were no differences in self-perceived general or mental health.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthcare, self-care, and health status were similar in immigrants and non-immigrants with T2DM in Canada; however, immigrants were less likely to regularly examine their feet. Culturally appropriate footcare education should be considered to prevent lower limb complications.
Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, Mount Sinai Hospital and the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada. robert.grant@utoronto.ca
Robert C
RC
Grant
Ravi R
RR
Retnakaran
D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D002170:Canada; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin