Diabetes: African Americans Deadly Foe
Diabetes is having a devastating effect on the African American community. Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in African Americans and their death rates are twenty seven percent higher than whites.
Over 2.8 million African Americans have diabetes and one third of them don't know they have the disease. In addition, twenty five percent of African Americans between the ages of 65 - 74 have diabetes and one in four African American women, over the age of 55, have been diagnosed with the disease
The cause of diabetes is a mystery, but researchers believe that both genetics and environmental factors play roles in who will develop the disease.
Heredity
Researchers believe that African Americans and African Immigrants are predisposed to developing diabetes. Research suggests that African Americans and recent African immigrants have inherited a "thrifty gene" from their African ancestors.
This gene may have enabled Africans to use food energy more efficiently during cycles of feast and famine. Now, with fewer cycles of feast and famine, this gene may make weight control more difficult for African Americans and African Immigrants.
This genetic predisposition, coupled with impaired glucose tolerance, is often associated with the genetic tendency toward high blood pressure. People with impaired glucose tolerance have higher than normal blood glucose levels and are at a higher risk for developing diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes, commonly know as "sugar diabetes", is a condition that occurs when the body is unable to properly produce or use insulin. Insulin is needed by the body to process sugar, starches and other foods into energy. Diabetes is a chronic condition for which there is no known cure; diabetes is a serious disease and should not be ignored.
Diabetics often suffer from low glucose levels (sugar) in their blood. Low blood sugar levels can make you disorientated, dizzy, sweaty, hungry, have headaches, have sudden mood swings, have difficulty paying attention, or have tingling sensations around the mouth.
Types of Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels is higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type II diabetes. Pre-diabetes can cause damage to the heart and circulatory system, but pre-diabetes can often be controlled by controlling blood glucose levels. By controlling pre-diabetes you can often prevent or delay the onset of Type II diabetes.
Type I or juvenile-onset diabetes usually strikes people under the age of 20, but can strike at any age. Five to ten percent of African Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes are diagnosed with this type of the disease. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body produces little or no insulin and this type of diabetes must be treated with daily insulin injections.
Type II or adult onset diabetes is responsible for ninety to ninety-five percent of diagnosed diabetes cases in African Americans. Type II results from a condition where the body fails to properly use insulin. According to the American Diabetes Association, "Type II is usually found in people over 45, who have diabetes in their family, who are overweight, who don't exercise and who have cholesterol problems." In the early stages it can often be controlled with lifestyle changes, but in the later stages diabetic pills or insulin injections are often needed.
Pregnancy related diabetes or gestational diabetes can occur in pregnant women. Gestational diabetes is often associated with high glucose blood levels or hyperglycemia. Gestational diabetes affects about four percent of all pregnant women. The disease usually goes away after delivery, but women who suffer from gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for developing diabetes later in life.
Symptoms of Diabetes
The most common symptoms of diabetes include:
excessive urination including frequent trips to the bathroom
increased thirst
increased appetite
blurred vision
unusual weight loss
increased fatigue
irritability
Complications from Diabetes
Diabetes can lead to many disabling and life threatening complications. Strokes, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and amputations are common complications that effect African Americans who have diabetes
Kidney Disease
"Diabetes is the second leading cause of end stage kidney disease in African Americans, accounting for about thirty percent of the new cases each year," says the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Up to twenty-one percent of people who develop diabetes will develop kidney disease.
Amputations
Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States. More than sixty percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in America occur among people with diabetes and African Americans are almost three times more likely to have a lower limb amputated due to diabetes than whites. According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 82,000 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed among people with diabetes in 2001.
Blindness
African Americans are twice as likely to suffer from diabetes related blindness. Diabetics can develop a condition called "Diabetic Retinopathy", a disease affecting the blood vessels of the eye, which can lead to impaired vision and blindness. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people from 20 - 74 years of age and up to 24,000 people loose their sight each year because of diabetes.
Heart Disease
People with diabetes are up to four times more likely to develop heart disease as people who don't have diabetes. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is more common in diabetics and can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and poor circulation throughout the body.
Diabetes Risk Factors
You have a greater risk for developing diabetes if you have any of the following:
Obesity
Family history of diabetes
Pre-diabetes
Low physical activity
Age greater than 45 years
High blood pressure
High blood levels of triglycerides
HDL cholesterol of less than 35
Previous diabetes during pregnancy or baby weighing more than 9 pounds
Diabetes has had a devastating effect on the African American community; it is the fifth leading cause of death and second leading cause of end stage kidney disease in African Americans.
African Americans suffer from complications from diabetes at a much higher rate than the rest of the population. African Americans are three times more likely to have a lower limb amputated because of diabetes and twice as likely to suffer from diabetes related blindness.
If you have any of the diabetes risk factors you should contact your physician and have a blood glucose test. Also discuss with your physician lifestyle changes you can take to lower your chances of developing diabetes.
About The Author
Drahcir Semaj is a freelance writer who writes about issues affecting African Americans. He can be contacted at drachir@drachirsemaj.com
MORE RESOURCES:
 Bloomberg | FDA Okays Another Diabetes Combo Agent MedPage Today By Cole Petrochko, Associate Staff Writer, MedPage Today WASHINGTON -- The FDA has approved an extended-release version of a combination sitagliptin and metformin (Janumet XR) for adults with type 2 diabetes. Approval was based on a bioequivalence ... FDA Approves Once-A-Day Drug for Type 2 Diabetes FDA Okays Merck's Janumet XR For Type 2 Diabetes - Update Merck Profit Exceeds Analysts' Estimates on Sales of Diabetes Medications |
 Family Practice News Digital Network | Distinguish Type 1 From Type 2 Diabetes in Obese Youth Family Practice News Digital Network New-onset type 1 diabetes in an obese youth cannot reliably be distinguished from pediatric type 2 diabetes on clinical grounds in this era of epidemic obesity. "The only way to distinguish obese type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes is to measure ... Phoenix Diabetes Lifestyle Coach and Endocrinologist Host Free, Informative ... All Natural Company True Healthy Products Now Offers Weight Loss And Fitness ... Over the Counter: Live healthier now and later |
Diabetes Takes Toll on Women's Hearing: Study iVillage Entertainment 3 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetes is associated with hearing loss in women, especially if the blood sugar disease isn't well-controlled, new research indicates. The study, done by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, examined the medical records ... |
Doctors Health Press Supports Study Showing That Diabetes Could Boost the Risk ... Houston Chronicle The Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters, books and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, is lending its support to a new study showing that diabetes, if not controlled well, ... |
 Zap2it.com (blog) | Weight loss is key in fighting type 2 diabetes San Francisco Chronicle Q: I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and am very confused about insulin resistance, and what carbohydrates I can and cannot eat. So much of what I read is contradictory. A: The first line of defense against type 2 diabetes is weight loss, ... A diabetic fiasco Paula Deen: Poster Child for Type 2 Diabetes and Excessive Sugar Consumption Paula Deen's diabetes drug: Should celebrities be endorsing pharmaceuticals? |
 TopNews United States | AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES NORTH CYPRESS MEDICAL CENTER DIABETES ... The Cypress Times Diabetes is a medical condition that causes a defect in the cells of the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin. Insulin allows the body's blood sugar to be absorbed. If not controlled, diabetes can lead to serious health issues. Weight Loss Hold Aces in Combating Type 2 Diabetes |
Fundraisers for Bayville Boy With Type 1 Diabetes Planned Patch.com By Catherine Galioto and Patricia A. Miller One local boy's family is working to increase his support system to manage his Type 1 Diabetes, by adding a "Diabetes Awareness Dog" to the family. A series of local fundraisers will help raise the money ... |
Ulcer-causing bug tied to higher diabetes risk Reuters By Kerry Grens | NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have been infected with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori are more than twice as likely to develop diabetes later on as people who do not have signs of the infection, according to a ... |
Ulcer-causing bug tied to higher diabetes risk Fox News Print Email Share Comments Recommend Tweet People who have been infected with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori are more than twice as likely to develop diabetes later on as people who do not have signs of the infection, according to a new ... |
 PsychCentral.com | Decaffeinated Coffee May Protect Against Cognitive Decline in Diabetes PsychCentral.com By Traci Pedersen Associate News Editor Decaffeinated coffee seems to improve brain energy metabolism in association with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Glucose utilization in the brain is reduced in ... Memory Function - Decaffeinated Coffee May Help Decaf may help improve memory function Decaf Coffee Benefits the Brain |
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