Diabetes and African Americans

African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. In addition, they are more likely to suffer complications from diabetes, such as end-stage renal disease and lower extremity amputations. Although African Americans have the same or lower rate of high cholesterol as their non-Hispanic white counterparts, they are more likely to have high blood pressure.

African American adults are twice as likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
In 2008, African American men were 2.7 times as likely to start treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
In 2008, diabetic African Americans were 1.7 times as likely as diabetic Whites to be hospitalized.
In 2009, African Americans were 2.2 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.

At a glance – Diagnosed Cases of Diabetes:

**Age-adjusted percentages of persons 18 years of age and over with diabetes, 2010 (National Health Interview Survey, NHIS)**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/Non- Hispanic White Ratio
12.9	7.6	1.7

Source: CDC 2012. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: 2010. Table 8.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_252.pdf [PDF | 3MB]

At a glance – Prevalence Rate:

**Age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes per 100 population (2010)**
	African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
Men	9.7	6.8	1.4
Women	9.5	5.4	1.8
Total	9.5	6.0	1.6

Source: CDC 2012. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/prev/national/menuage.htm

**Age-adjusted prevalence of visual impairment per 100 adults with diabetes (2010)**
	African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
Men	19.7	15.2	1.3
Women	23.4	17.6	1.3
Total	21.6	16.3	1.3

Source: CDC 2012. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/visual/fig5.htm

**Rate of initiation of treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes per 100,000 diabetic population (2008)**
	African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
Men and Women	368.7	151.7	2.4
Men	461.7	170.7	2.7
Women	304.9	131.5	2.3

Source: CDC 2012. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/esrd/fig5.htm

**Age-adjusted hospital discharge rate per 1,000 diabetic population, 2009**
African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
265.6	160.5	1.7

Source: CDC 2012. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/dmany/fig6.htm

**Age-adjusted rate for lower extremity amputation per 1,000 diabetic population, 2009**
African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
4.5	2.3	2.0

Source: CDC 2012. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/lea/fig6.htm

At a glance – Death Rate:

**Age-Adjusted Diabetes Death Rates per 100,000 (2009)**
	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/Non- Hispanic White Ratio
Male	45.3	22.7	2.0
Female	36.6	15.0	2.4
Total	40.4	18.4	2.2

Source: CDC, 2012. National Vital Statistic Report. Vol. 60, Num 3 Table 17.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr60/nvsr60_03.pdf [PDF | 2MB]

At a Glance – Risk Factors:

There are several risk factors related to diabeties. Some of these risk factors are:

Obesity and Overweight - See Obesity and African Americans

Hypertension - See Heart Disease and African Americans

High Cholesterol - See Heart Disease and African Americans

Cigarette Smoking - See Heart Disease and African Americans

At a Glance – Treatment:

**Age-adjusted percentage of persons 40 years of age and over with diabetes who had received an influenza immunization, 2008.**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
52.0	59.8	0.9

Source: 2011 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 4_1_5.2b.
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr11/4_diabetes/T4_1_5_2b.htm

**Age-adjusted percentage of persons 40 years of age and over with diabetes who had a foot examination, 2008.**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
64.8	66.8	1.0

Source: 2011 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 4_1_4.2b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr11/4_diabetes/T4_1_4_2b.htm

**Age-adjusted percentage of persons 40 years of age and over with diabetes who had a retinal eye examination, 2008**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
57.6	64.8	0.9

Source: 2011 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 4_1_3.2b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr11/4_diabetes/T4_1_3_2b.htm

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Content Last Modified: 8/28/2012 10:50:00 AM

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