USC expert dispels diabetes myths for Latino audience
The SC CTSI director Tom Buchanan dispels diabetes myths for Latino audience
Martha Garcia lives with Type 2 diabetes, a preventable and manageable disease that for many feels like a social death sentence. The myths surrounding the disease made Garcia believe she had two choices — continue with the habits that led to getting the disease or eliminate many of the foods she loved by avoiding social events that provided those foods.
The disease is widespread in the Latino community: According to the American Diabetes Association, Latinos are 66 percent more likely to have diagnosed diabetes than non-Latino Caucasians.
Garcia was one of the attendees who filed in to the East L.A. Library on a recent morning, translation earphones in tow, ready to be informed about the disease. The pertinent information on diabetes came from one of the leading experts on Type 2 diabetes, Thomas Buchanan, chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Keck Medicine of USC. There are many reasons the disease has been rampant in the Latino community, he said. It’s not only the lack of information and resources, but also the misinformation often associated with the disease.
Buchanan also took questions from the audience to dispel the many myths surrounding the disease. The goal was to provide some clarity in taking proper steps to prevent the disease along with seeking proper treatment once it is diagnosed.
“Exercising and eating a well-balanced diet are a great way to prevent and lower the risk of diabetes,” he said. “The second part may prove to be a challenge in communities that are food deserts and lack access to healthy foods.”
Diabetes myths: more moderation, less elimination of food you like
For Garcia, discovering that living with diabetes is about moderation, as opposed to elimination, was refreshing.
“The information I received before was that I couldn’t eat anything because I have diabetes,” she said, speaking in Spanish. “They never discuss the myths. It helps us that we can eat foods that we like.”
The Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Instituteprogram works on community research projects and tackles issues affecting the Eastern parts of Los Angeles as well as South Los Angeles. The projects funded by SC CTSI include autism education and awareness in lower-income households. SC CTSI provides pilot funding for research that tackles issues in diverse populations with the outcome benefitting local communities.
