Diabetes

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Diabetes

You can get diabetes if your body does not use insulin right. Insulin changes the sugars in food into energy. Type 1 diabetes happens when your body destroys its own cells that make insulin. Type 2 diabetes happens when your body doesn't make enough insulin. Diabetes affects women of all ages. African Americans are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of the same age.

People with diabetes are more likely to have problems with their skin, mouth, kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and feet. African Americans have higher rates of at least two of diabetes' most serious complications: amputation (such as having a toe or foot removed), and kidney failure. Although type 1 diabetes can't be prevented, there are steps you can take to prevent and control type 2 diabetes:

• See your doctor regularly. Don't forget about the dentist and eye doctor!
• If you smoke, try to quit. Quitting is hard, but there are programs that can help.
• Control your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, your blood pressure, and your weight.
• Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, walk during breaks at work.
• Check your feet every day for blisters, red spots, swelling, or cuts.
• Stay aware of how you feel. If you notice a problem, call your doctor right away.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. This type of diabetes affects about 1 in 20 pregnancies. During pregnancy your body makes hormones that keep insulin from doing its job. To make up for this, your body makes extra insulin. In some women this extra insulin is not enough, so they get gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually goes away when the pregnancy is over. Still, women who have had gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Publications

1.   Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? - This booklet 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

2.   Diabetes & High Blood Pressure Make the Kidney Connection: What African Americans Need To Know - 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

3.   Energize Yourself and Your Family - This booklet provides specific information on becoming more physically fit, eating the right foods, and encourages African Americans to lead a healthy lifestyle.

   http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/energize.htm

4.   For People of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian Heritage: Important Information about Diabetes Blood Tests - This publication explains that 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 your diabetes care.

   http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/traitA1C/

5.     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 a table to chart your daily and weekly goals, as well as more information on how to develop your own personal "game plan."

   http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/50Ways_tips.pdf

6.     The Diabetes Epidemic among African Americans - This information sheet discusses the different types of diabetes, risk factors, and affects 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

7. African Americans and Diabetes (Copyright © ADA) - This page lists statistics about African Americans and diabetes and links to publications from the American Diabetes Association that are written for African Americans.

   http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/africanamericans.jsp

8. African-Americans and Diabetes (Copyright © AACHAC) - This fact sheet describes the role that diabetes plays in the African American community. It provides statistics on the number of African Americans who have diabetes, as well as information on the warning signs and what to do in serious situations.

   http://www.aachac.org/healthfactsheets/diabetes.html

9. Diabetes Risk Test (Copyright © ADA) - This tool is an interactive test that can help you determine your risk for diabetes.

   http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp

Organizations

1.   National Diabetes Education Program
2.   National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, HHS
3. American Diabetes Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007