Abstract Body: Introduction: Hispanic/Latino (H/L) populations, particularly Mexican Americans, face a disproportionately high prevalence of type II diabetes mellitus (T2D) in the United States, yet remain underrepresented in epidemiological research. While genetic predisposition and health behavior factors contribute to this disparity, the role of key social determinants of health (SDoH), particularly socioeconomic status (SES), in T2D prevalence is understudied.

Methods: This study utilized data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC), an ongoing population-based longitudinal study of Mexican American adults (n=3,916). T2D status was defined by self-reported diagnoses, medication use, fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL, or hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5%. Socioeconomic status was measured using a socioeconomic adversity (SEA) score, which incorporated education, income, and occupation. Each component was scored from 0 to 1, and the cumulative SEA score ranged from 0 to 3. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models were employed to assess associations between SEA components and T2D prevalence, adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), fruit/vegetable intake, and insurance status.

Results: Of the 3,916 participants, 1,053 (26.9%) met the criteria for T2D. Participants with lower education levels, especially those with less than a high school education, had significantly higher odds of T2D (OR=2.43, 95% CI [1.84, 3.22]). Additionally, those employed in blue-collar occupations had elevated odds of T2D (OR=1.33, 95% CI [1.11, 1.58]). In adjusted models, education remained the strongest predictor, with individuals who had less than a high school education being twice as likely to have T2D (OR=2.08, 95% CI [1.52, 2.84]), compared to participants with college degrees or higher.

Conclusion: This study underscores the significant association between socioeconomic adversity and the prevalence of T2D in a predominantly Mexican American population. While other SES factors, such as income and occupation, were relevant, education emerged as the most significant predictor of T2D. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve educational opportunities and mitigate the impact of T2D in underserved H/L communities.