Contact Us

Public Health
Seattle & King County
401 5th Ave., Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98104

Phone: 206-296-4600
TTY Relay: 711

Toll-free: 800-325-6165

Click here to email us

Public Records Requests

Instructions to submit a Public Records Request
Common questions about diabetes and REACH

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way your body uses food. In order for your body to have energy it changes the food you eat into glucose or sugar. Your body then carries this sugar to your body's cells. A hormone, called insulin, helps the sugar get into the cells. Diabetes occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or use it very well. When glucose cannot enter the cells, it builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells. It is estimated that 16 million Americans have diabetes. However only 10.5 million Americans have been diagnosed. Another 5.5 million remain undiagnosed and do not know they have the disease.

What are the complications of diabetes?

Over time, this build up of sugar in your blood can cause damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, and nerves, leading to serious health problems, even death.

Some of diabetes-related complications include:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Vision loss or blindness
  • Amputations (loss of foot or leg)
  • Nerve damage
  • Kidney disease
  • Lower life expectancy

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be controlled!

How can I control my diabetes?

There are a lot of things you can do to control your diabetes. These include:

  • Stay at a weight that is right for you
  • Become more active (physical activity three or more times a week)
  • Eat right
  • Eat low fat meals that are high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods
  • Eat five fruits and vegetables daily
  • Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly
  • Do not smoke
  • Limit your alcoholic beverages
  • Let others help
  • Brush and floss your teeth regularly
  • See your dentist regularly
  • Use the health care system
  • If prescribed, take your medication correctly
  • Perform routine foot care
  • Have your feet, eyes, and kidneys checked regularly

What causes diabetes?

The cause of diabetes is a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

What are the different types of diabetes?
  • Type 1 - A disease in which the body does not produce any insulin, most often occurring in children and young adults. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10% of diabetes.
  • Type 2 - A metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to make enough, or properly use, insulin. Type 2 diabetes, which most often appears after age 40, is also rising among children and persons under 40 years. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, accounting for 90- 95% of diabetes. It is nearing epidemic proportions, due to an increased number of older Americans, and a greater prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
  • Other - Some women develop diabetes during pregnancy. Known as gestational diabetes, this condition occurs in 2-5% of all pregnancies. Other less common types of diabetes, which together account for 1-2% of all diagnosed cases, result from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses.

Am I at risk?

Many people have diabetes and don't know it. If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, you may have a higher risk of developing diabetes:

  • Does your family have a history of diabetes?
  • Is your blood pressure at or above 130/85?
  • Are you African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Native American?
  • Did you have diabetes during pregnancy?
  • Did you have a baby weighing more than 9 pounds at birth?·
  • Are you overweight?
  • Are you under 65 years of age AND get little or no exercise?
  • Are you 65 years of age or older?
  • Take this test to find out more

What are some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes?

Do you have any of the symptoms on this list? If so, call your health care provider right away.

  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Often tired
  • Blurred vision
  • Tingling or numbness in the feet
  • Sores that don't heal
  • Increased hunger
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Sexual problems
  • Vaginal infections

Remember, the sooner you know if you have diabetes, the sooner you can learn to control it.

What about different racial/ethnic groups?

Minority racial and ethnic groups are hardest hit by diabetes and bear a disproportionate share of the burden of the disease.

Diabetes is two to four times higher among African American and Hispanic/Latino populations, as well as some sub-Asian Pacific Islander populations. In King County, diabetes prevalence among African Americans is 2.6 times the rate among whites, and the death rate is 3.7 times higher. This pattern is also similar among Hispanic/Latinos.

Among Asian Americans/Pacific Islander Americans in King County, diabetes prevalence is slightly higher than among whites and the death rate is similar to the white rate*. The Seattle Japanese-American Community Diabetes Study however, found the prevalence of diabetes among Japanese Americans to be 16-20% higher than among whites. The Washington Diabetes Prevention Program reported that several Asian American/Pacific Islander American groups (Filipino 28%, Korean 23%, Japanese 23%, and Chinese 17%) had higher rates of undiagnosed diabetes than whites (15%).

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in Seattle & King County. In King County, the diabetes death rates per 100,000, 2001-2005 among persons age 40+ in King County are 18.8 for Whites, 62.2 for African Americans, 25.1 for Asian American/Pacific Islander American, and 22.2 for Latino/Hispanics.

*1999-2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, EPE Unit, Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Why REACH?

The Seattle & King County Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Coalition is funded by CDC to eliminate diabetes-related health disparities among African Americans, Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, and Latinos/Hispanics living in King County. The Coalition creates system change by providing training and technical assistance to clinics, faith-based organizations, community based agencies, and small businesses on implementing the culturally tailored diabetes education and self-management groups it developed. Coalition members are collaborating to disseminate the REACH group model to these community organizations. REACH also promotes primary prevention of diabetes through policy and organizational systems change to address diabetes.

The REACH US program builds on the accomplishments of the initial REACH 2010 efforts which included formation of a sustainable coalition and development of the culturally tailored, evidence-based diabetes education and chronic disease self-management support programs. These programs are now routinely offered by two of the community clinic systems in King County that serve vulnerable populations at high risk of suffering from diabetes. The percentage of people participating in the groups with self-reported well-controlled A1c levels increased from 48% to 56%.

What are the REACH activities?
  • Train others to integrate the utilization of culturally tailored approaches, using a lay educator model to the extent feasible, to help prevent and/or manage Type 2 diabetes, into the operations or referral mechanisms of community organizations including medical clinics, faith settings, and small businesses that employ members of the priority communities.
  • Increase and/or enhance collaborations with partners, such as Steps to a Healthier US (Steps), Washington Health Foundation’s (WHF)Healthiest State Campaign, and the King County Food and Fitness Initiative (KCFFI), to disseminate culturally tailored approaches for primary prevention of diabetes and health promotion throughout King County and other areas of Washington State, and continue this implementation throughout the program.
  • Collaborate with local policy development entities, including the King County Equity & Social Justice Imitative (ESJI) with the goal of eliminating health inequities.