Social Determinants of Health in Diabetes Outcomes

Social Determinants of Health as Explanatory Factors for Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes Outcomes

This is a cross-sectional study of six hundred adults with type 2 diabetes, (300 White and 300 African-American) who will be recruited from two primary care sites to determine how social determinants of health impact diabetes outcomes. The first aim is to investigate the role of psychosocial factors and SES on diabetes care processes and outcomes. The second aim is to investigate the influence of community and neighborhood characteristics on diabetes care processes and outcomes. Finally, we will examine the contribution of social determinants of health to ethnic differences in diabetes care processes and outcomes. Clinical and metabolic measures will be abstracted from the electronic medical records. Outcome variables include hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, LDL-Cholesterol and quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes
• Able to communicate in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mental confusion on interview suggesting significant dementia
• Alcohol or drug abuse/dependency
• Active psychosis or acute mental disorder