The University of Arizona’s Center for Disparities in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism is spearheading an initiative to improve diabetes research among Latinos. This demographic faces a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and prediabetes at a younger age compared to other racial groups.
The initiative involves the creation of a Wellness Bank, which collects blood, DNA specimens, and lifestyle data from Latino patients and their families. This data is shared with academic researchers and the community to foster better health outcomes.
Participants in the Wellness Bank can access their health information at no cost, enabling them to make informed lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of diabetes and other diseases. Dr. Lisa Soltani, medical director for internal medicine at El Rio Health, one of the partnering federally qualified health centers, emphasized the ethical nature of this partnership.
“This partnership allows research to be done in an ethical way so that participants can use the information to improve their health,” Soltani said. She noted that many patients are motivated to participate as it helps advance scientific knowledge that could benefit their families and community.
The Wellness Bank also provides free lab tests for participants, including checks on dietary sugar control, cholesterol, kidney function, and more. Dr. Soltani reviews these tests and often identifies conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, allowing for immediate follow-up care.
The collected data will be used to study links between mental health and diabetes, diet interventions for food-insecure adults, and other health issues.
