Unequal Cut in Limb Amputations: Diabetes and Health Disparity in the United States

Abstract

This paper discusses the diabetes “epidemic” (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [herein after CDC] https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-stat-report.html) in the United States. Specifically, the paper will discuss the racial disparity in diabetes disease prevalence and impacts between African Americans and Whites in the United States. The disproportionate prevalence, impacts, treatment, and care of diabetes between African Americans and Whites is particularly manifested in the diabetes related lower extremity amputations (LEA) undergone by African Americans compared to their White counterparts pertinent to causal, predisposing, and preventive factors. Through comparative analysis and using diabetic amputation rates, extant LEA encounter studies and data in the literature will be used to analyze and demonstrate “The Black American Amputation Epidemic” with implications for public policy and public health. Methodically, the paper conducted systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, government reports, secondary data, PubMed articles, Google Scholar Databases, published references. Consistent with existing empirical literature, the paper find and conclude that African Americans and other racial minorities suffer disproportionate preventable diabetes induced LEAs and deaths compared to Whites, further widening racial health care disparity problem. In addition, the paper adds to the body of knowledge and awareness of the increasing problem of diabetes on the African American population health germane to public policy intervention to reduce, if not totally eliminate the problem. Policy interventions including robust diabetes mitigation policy and leadership in the American health care system, more funding, research, education, better management, and preventive care for all patients at risk of amputation should be pursued, especially focusing on the historically underserved population. In this paper, the terms “Black (s),” “Black Americans,” “African Americans,” “racial minorities” and “people of color” are used interchangeably.

Keywords: Diabetes, race, Black, White, health disparity, amputation, policy, United States

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/95-10

Publication date: November 30^th 2021