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Health conditions common in
African-American women:

Asthma Breast cancer Cancer Cervical cancer Diabetes Glaucoma and cataracts Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol HIV/AIDS Infant death Kidney disease Lupus Mental health problems and suicide Osteoporosis Overweight and obesity Pregnancy-related death Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Sickle cell anemia Smoking Stroke Tuberculosis (TB) Uterine fibroids Violence

Diabetes

• More information on diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that causes blood sugar levels to be too high. Over time high blood sugar levels can hurt many parts of your body, such as your skin, mouth, kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and feet. It can even cause death.

Type 2 diabetes — the most common type of diabetes — is one of the biggest health challenges facing African-Americans, and especially African-American women. One in 4 African-American women older than 55 has diabetes. African-Americans also have high rates of at least two of diabetes' most serious complications: amputation (such as having a toe or foot removed) and kidney failure.

You can't control some risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as your age, race, or family history. But you can prevent or delay developing type 2 diabetes by taking these steps:

• Maintain a healthy weight. Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) to see if you are at a healthy weight.
• Eat low-fat, well-balanced meals.
• Make physical activity a habit. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:
  • 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • A combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity
    and
    
  • Muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week
• Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day.

You could have type 2 diabetes and not know it. Type 2 diabetes sometimes has no warning signs. Talk to your doctor about diabetes in your family. Get your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels checked regularly, as advised by your doctor. If you find out you have diabetes, you can take steps to manage the disease and live a full and active life. Making healthy eating and physical activity a regular part of your family life also will help to lower your loved ones' risk of diabetes.

There are other forms of diabetes:

• Gestational diabetes is when blood sugar levels are too high during pregnancy. African-American women have higher rates than non-Hispanic white women. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. But having gestational diabetes puts you are at higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes later in life.
• Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys insulin-making cells. It is far less common than type 2 and often starts in childhood. There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

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More information on diabetes

Explore other publications and websites

• African-American Programs (Copyright © American Diabetes Association) — This page provides links to resources that may help African Americans prevent diabetes. It also presents statistics about African Americans and complications related to the disease.
  http://www.diabetes.org/community-events/programs/african-american-programs/
• African-Americans and Diabetes (Copyright © African American Community Health Advisory Committee) — This fact sheet describes the role that diabetes plays in the African-American community and includes statistics on the number of African-Americans who have diabetes. It also has information on diabetes symptoms and common complications.
  http://www.aachac.org/healthfactsheets/diabetes.html
• Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? Taking Steps to Lower Your Risk of Getting Diabetes — This fact sheet defines diabetes and reviews the signs and symptoms of the disease. It discusses the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and the ways it can be prevented.
  http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/riskfortype2/index.htm
• The Diabetes Epidemic Among African-Americans — This information sheet discusses the different types of diabetes, risk factors, and effects of diabetes in African-Americans. It also provides advice on how to prevent heart disease, stroke, and other diabetes complications.
  http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/FS_AfricanAm.pdf
• Diabetes Risk Test (Copyright © American Diabetes Association) — This interactive tool can help you determine your risk of diabetes. It includes information on prevention, how to cope, and more.
  http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp
• Diagnosis of Diabetes — This publication discusses the change in the names of the two main types of diabetes because of the confusion the old names caused. Type I & II replaces juvenile-onset and insulin-dependent diabetes. A lower fasting plasma glucose (FPG) value to diagnose diabetes is also discussed.
  http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/
• For People of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian Heritage: Important Information About Diabetes Blood Tests — If you are of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian heritage, you could have a variant form of hemoglobin in your red blood cells that affects the detection of diabetes. this web page discusses what this means and how it might affect your diabetes care.
  http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/traitA1C/
• For People with Diabetes or High Blood Pressure: Get Checked for Kidney Disease — This fact sheet informs African-Americans about how diabetes and high blood pressure can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure.
  http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/resources/make_the_kidney_connection.htm
• More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes — This fact sheet gives tips on how African-Americans who are at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes can prevent the disease. It provides information to help you develop your own personal game plan, as well as a table to chart your daily and weekly goals.
  http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/50Ways_tips.pdf
• What African Americans Need To Know: Diabetes and High Blood Pressure — Make the Kidney Connection — This fact sheet informs African-Americans about how diabetes and high blood pressure can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure.
  http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/resources/African_American_brochure.htm

Connect with other organizations

• American Diabetes Association
  http://www.diabetes.org/
• National Diabetes Education Program
  http://ndep.nih.gov/
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, HHS
  http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/

Content last updated May 18, 2010.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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