Gaps in care among people from disadvantaged or historically oppressed groups have become front and center over the past few years, as minorities within the U.S. continue to be disproportionately affected by certain diseases. Despite diabetes being a protected disability under federal law, the chronic health condition remains one of the top health concerns that plague minorities. Estimates indicate that rates of diabetes are almost 1.5 times higher among minority ethnic groups, while other studies have found medical costs and lost wages of people with diabetes contribute to $327 billion annually, further blocking access to those of lower socioeconomic status.

These disparities in diabetes care for minorities are the result of a combination of limited access to health care services, a lack of affordable medications, cultural and linguistic differences and little educational resources around the health condition. Health care organizations, both providers and suppliers, have the responsibility to understand, address and break down these barriers to ensure underserved populations have access to comprehensive diabetes care for better health outcomes.

Understanding the current challenges limiting access to diabetes care

A prominent barrier that is plaguing minorities from receiving diabetes care is the medical costs associated with the condition. Spending on insulin has tripled in the past 10 years – increasing from $8 billion in 2012 to $22.3 billion in 2022 – with findings showing that Black Americans with diabetes pay the most in direct health expenditures. This increase in costs for minorities with diabetes stems from poor insurance plans. Many practitioners in the U.S. are limited to only serving patients whose insurance covers specific procedures and medicine, and in most minority populations, insurance coverage does not cover all expenses needed to receive care. Access to diabetes-related technology is also disproportionate for minorities, with studies showing that racial disparities in diabetes technology use have actually widened over the last decade. It was found that Black patients with T1 Diabetes are half as likely to receive a continuous glucose monitor despite them having an increased risk of hospitalizations with Diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia.