Quality of Life among Mexican-Americans with Normal, Impaired, and Diabetic Blood Sugar Levels

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the differences in quality of life (QOL), depression, and obesity parameters among Mexican-Americans with normal (< 100 mg/dl), impaired or pre-diabetes (100-125 mg/dl), and diabetic blood sugar levels (>126 mg/dl) for a better understanding of the outcomes and burden of the disease on quality of life. Method: Respondents comprised of a non-random sample of 207 Mexican Americans recruited through 3 health fairs in Bryan/College Station Texas. Data was collected on depression, QOL, obesity parameters, and demographic variables. Results: The mean age was 44.5 years (SD=13.4). The majority of the respondents were females (63%), married (72%), high school educated or less (87%), and normoglycemic (42%). No significant differences were noted in quality of life, depression, and waist-hip ratio by blood sugar level controlling for age, gender, and education as hypothesized. However, individuals with diabetes and pre-diabetes stage had higher significantly higher BMI and % body fat than those individuals with normal blood sugar levels. Conclusion: Though there have been other studies that analyzed quality of life among other ethnic groups, there have been no studies of Mexican-Americans that have compared QOL in normal, pre-diabetic, and diabetic individuals. Hence, this is the first study among Mexican Americans that showed no significant difference in QOL as hypothesized despite the fact that half of the diabetics in the study had poor control of their disease (by measure of A1C); QOL among these individuals was not considered poor.