René Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, Andreina Millan-Ferro and Enrique Caballero A
Purpose: The purpose of this review was to identify the frequency and impact of myths and misconceptions about insulin therapy among Latino patients with diabetes. Myths are part of any culture, but can represent a strong barrier in day-to-day diabetes management.
Methods: Articles from the last 22 years (1992-2014) were searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Proquest and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Publications for this review included those that studied Latino or Hispanic patients with diabetes and were related to myths and/or misconceptions about insulin therapy.
Results: Twelve articles about misconceptions and myths related to insulin therapy in Latinos or Hispanics with diabetes met the inclusion criteria. All of them evaluated misconceptions about insulin therapy using different types of interviews and questionnaires. Negative attitudes about insulin therapy were highly prevalent among Latino patients. Many considered that insulin therapy was related to a negative life-style. Most patients feared to initiate insulin therapy and believed insulin was associated with a more advanced stage of diabetes. Blindness, amputation and dialysis were frequently considered a consequence of starting insulin therapy.
Conclusion: Misconceptions and myths about insulin therapy prevail in a large number of Latino/Hispanic patients with diabetes. They constitute important barriers when planning to start insulin therapy and may potentially jeopardize their health. Comprehensive educational programs for Latino patients with diabetes must include sessions to identify and address the presence of these misconceptions. At the same time, all health care providers caring for Latino patients with diabetes must be aware of the high prevalence of these well embedded cultural beliefs