Cabassa Leopoldo J. author Columbia University. Social Work Blanco Carlos author Columbia University. Psychiatry Lopez-Castroman Jorge author Lin Keng-Han author Lui Shang-Min author Lewis-Fernandez Roberto author Columbia University. Social Work originator text Articles 2011 manuscript version English Objective: This study examined racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a nationally representative sample of adults with and without common psychiatric disorders. Method: Data were drawn from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (N= 34,653). Logistic regression models adjusting for sociodemographic variables and diabetes risk factors were used to examine racial/ethnic differences in 12-month prevalence rates of diabetes by psychiatric status. Results: Among people without psychiatric disorders, African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians/Alaska Natives, but not Asians/Pacific Islanders, had significantly higher rates of diabetes than non-Hispanic whites even after adjusting for socio-demographic variables and diabetes risk factors. In the presence of psychiatric disorders, these health disparities persisted for African Americans and Hispanics, but not for American Indians/Alaska Natives. No significant interactions between race/ethnicity and psychiatric disorders in the odds of diabetes were found across any group. Conclusion: Policies and services that support culturally appropriate prevention and treatment strategies are needed to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes among people with and without psychiatric disabilities. Mental health 33 2 107 115 2011 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2010.11.011 http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:15202 NNC NNC 2012-11-05 16:56:05 -0500 2012-11-05 17:03:17 -0500 9204 eng