title: A descriptive study of Marshallese and Chuukese patients with diabetes in Hawai'i.
abstract: Diabetes is a growing epidemic in the United States with significant racial and ethnic health disparities among minorities. In Pacific Islanders, diabetes ranks as the fifth leading cause of death, higher than the national average. Despite this, little is known about diabetes in this population, and even less so in subpopulations such as Micronesians. To target these high-risk individuals, a federally qualified health center on Hawai'i Island started a multi-disciplinary diabetes care program for two Micronesian populations. This manuscript describes the characteristics of the Marshallese and Chuukese patients with diabetes enrolled in this program. Program enrollees had low socioeconomic status and poor health literacy, as well as high prevalence of co-morbidities commonly linked with diabetes. These findings support the data available on Micronesian populations and highlight the need to develop approaches that will improve health outcomes and bridge health disparities for these individuals.
authors: The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, HI (CT, DTJ).
authors: Candace
authors: C
authors: Tan
authors: The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, HI (CT, DTJ).
authors: Stacy
authors: S
authors: Haumea
authors: The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, HI (CT, DTJ).
authors: Deborah Taira
authors: DT
authors: Juarez
authors: The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, HI (CT, DTJ).
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Grimm
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000208:ethnology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008849:Micronesia / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Chuukese; Diabetes; Marshallese; Micronesians; Pacific Islanders; health disparities