Social and cultural aspects of living with type 2 diabetes for ethnic minorities in Canada

Diabetes is a chronic progressive disease that affects one in three Canadians and ethnicity is one of its risk factors in Canada. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) which constitutes the vast majority of the cases, is highly impacted by social and cultural factors. However, we know very little about how social and cultural factors impact living with T2DM in for ethnic minorities in Canada. A systematic review of the existing literature and survey-based assessment of patient perceptions were conducted. The most important social and cultural determinants of health for patients were diabetes education, social support, cultural competency of institutions (e.g. healthcare system, the government), patient trust for institutions, perceptions of self, and the perception of financial barriers. The social and cultural factors of importance can be understood in three categories of (1) diabetes education, (2) perceptions of self and perceived relations with others, (3) perceived financial constraints.