Does that imply any difference in the kinds of medical problems they have?
One thing that is definitely more represented in our practice is mental health issues. Often people who are mentally ill are not working. They have more difficulty finding employment, and they are less likely to have insurance. I think that mental health problems are over-represented in our population, especially in the Anglo population. Q: What about the immigrant population? A: Diabetes is very highly represented. I think some of that is genetic and inherited tendencies. Another aspect is the change in their activity level and diet when they come to the United States. There’s a lot less walking and a lot less playing outside. There’s also a lot more driving and a lot more two-parent families working. Mom is not at home as much to fix the traditional meals, so there’s more exposure to fast food. Q: How are you able to help them manage their diabetes within the financial constraints that they have? A: Fortunately, about a year and a half ago, we became a federally qualified health cent
