Diagnosed and Undiagnosed Diabetes among Agricultural Workers in California

Latino agricultural workers in California are a vulnerable population at risk for many undiagnosed health concerns. Principal among them is diabetes, and the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes is difficult to estimate. In a convenience sample of 579 agricultural workers recruited through the California Heat Illness Prevention Study (CHIPS), we found HbA1c levels consistent with diabetes in 54 participants, of whom 33 (61.1%) were aware of their status. We found HbA1c levels consistent with pre-diabetes in 59 participants, of whom none was aware. Results indicate a health disparity between agricultural workers and other populations in the U.S. Many are unaware of having a chronic illness and lack resources or have other barriers to manage it. Nurses, midlevel providers, and health fairs are often the first or only point of health care contact for agricultural workers and can provide valuable information, screening, and support for this vulnerable population.