For the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-94) population of the same age group, however, the percentages are 2.9 and 3.8 among the males and females, respectively. The HHANES data comprises different portions of the Hispanic American and Mexican-American population residing in several Southwestern states. Thus far, the studies reviewed suggest that prevalence of diabetes is greater in Mexican-American females than in their male counterpart, greater in Hispanic Americans than in Non-Hispanic Whites, and that Hispanics usually tend to be heavier than their Non-Hispanic White Counterpart.

The Hispanic population (Los Hispanos) of the state of New Mexico has a long history of residence in the region dating back to the original Spanish settlers and not surprisingly, the study found that 89 percent of the participants were New Mexico born and only two percent were Mexico born. A comparison of the diabetes rates in this sample to those reported for Mexican-Americans in Texas and the general American population revealed that the New Mexico sample had an intermediate status when compared to the other two populations. A criticism of the study arises from the use of self-reported diabetes to calculate prevalence rates in the study. The prevalence rates might have been higher if undiagnosed diabetics had been identified using other methods of diabetes assessment.

In summary, the diabetic studies that have been reviewed to this point suggest that:

• Hispanic-Americans experience a higher prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) than in non-Hispanic whites;
•  The prevalence is greater in Mexican-American females than in their male counterparts;
• The Amerindian admixture background of the Mexican-American population is suggested as a likely contributor to the higher prevalence of Type 2 DM among Mexican-Americans than Non-Hispanic whites but lower than among the Pima population;
• Rural (farms/ranches) populations have a lower prevalence of Type2 DM when compared to urban (cities/towns) populations;
• There is an increasing incidence of the disease among Mexican-American women over 40 years of age.
• Control/preventive approaches include identifying people at high risk for Type 2 DM and encouraging them to modify their life-style (lose weight, exercise, and follow a healthy diet).