E-Mail WASHINGTON--Black and Hispanic people with COVID-19 and diabetes are more likely than Caucasians to die or have serious complications, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Health disparities refer to unequal health status or health care between groups of people due to differences in their background, physical traits or their environment. These differences include race/ethnicity, country of origin, sex, income and disability. Minorities are disproportionately affected by diabetes and COVID-19 and are more likely to develop serious complications like diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids.