Type 2 Diabetes in Urban Black and Rural White Women

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this secondary analysis was to describe and compare physiological, psychosocial, and self-management characteristics of urban black and rural white women with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the northeast United States. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional secondary analysis was conducted with baseline data from 2 independent study samples: rural white women and urban black women. Results Results revealed the sample were on average educated, working, low-income, mid-life women with poor glycemic and blood pressure control, despite having a usual source of primary care. When compared, black women were younger, had lower income levels, worked more, and were often single and/or divorced. They had worse glycemic control, significantly higher levels of diabetes-related emotional distress, and less support than white women. Conclusion Despite differences in geography and study findings, both groups had suboptimal physiological and psychosocial levels that impede self-management. These findings serve to aid in the understanding of health disparities, emphasizing the importance of developing and evaluating effective interventions of diabetes care for women with T2D.