Implicit biases in the healthcare system may be contributing to misdiagnoses of diabetes among African American patients, suggests Rochelle Naylor, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Chicago. Naylor, who specializes in atypical forms of diabetes, notes that these biases can affect patient care and experiences. A group of Black women shared their struggles with Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Health News, revealing that they were initially misdiagnosed, which led to being denied essential medicines, technology, and tests for proper diabetes treatment.
The issue of racial bias in healthcare is not new; a KFF survey found that 55% of Black adults felt the need to be cautious about their appearance to ensure fair treatment during medical visits. Hospital software has also come under scrutiny for potential discrimination. One of the women, who holds a PhD, expressed frustration over the disregard for her knowledge and intuition due to her race and body size, emphasizing that her credentials did not protect her from biased treatment.
These findings highlight the ongoing challenges that Black patients face in the U.S. health system, where advocating for oneself can be perceived negatively, especially for women of color. The delay in receiving accurate diagnoses and the difference in societal support for type 1 versus type 2 diabetes patients underscore the disparities and underrepresentation in healthcare. The story, originally published by KFF Health News on January 9, 2024, underscores the need for greater awareness and corrective measures to address racial biases in medical diagnosis and treatment.
See “These Patients Had to Lobby for Correct Diabetes Diagnoses. Was Their Race a Reason?” by Bram Sable-Smith and KFF Health News on the Real Health website (January 12, 2024)
