Diabetes near the international border in Texas

During 2007, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System of Texas sampled additional respondents in the international border region - 32 counties within 100 kilometers along the border with Mexico. We compared the prevalence of diabetes in the border with the rest of Texas along with indicators related to burden of disease. Estimates account for the complex sampling design, including unequal selection probabilities and stratification. (Abstract estimates are preliminary.) The prevalence of diabetes was higher along the border than the prevalence in the rest of Texas, 12.4% and 9.0%, respectively. In Hispanics age 45-64 years, the prevalence of diabetes among men and women were higher in the border region (23% and 27%, respectively) than in the rest of Texas (14% and 20%, respectively). In Hispanics age 65+ years, the prevalence in men and women in the border (29% and 36%, respectively) and the rest of Texas (33% and 36%, respectively) were relatively similar. The prevalence for non-Hispanics in the border was relatively similar to non-border in all age/gender groups with the exception of women age 45-64 years (16% and 9%, respectively). In the above age groups, the prevalence of diabetes in non-Hispanics compared to Hispanics was 43-14% lower in men and 58-41% lower in women. The higher prevalence of diabetes in the border is due in part to the higher number of Hispanics. Factors such as rates and averages for insulin use, impaired activity days, and other aspects of the burden of disease will be examined.