Diabetes, a metabolic disorder that occurs when the body cannot properly regulate glucose levels in the blood, is extremely prevalent in the black community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11.4 percent of the African American population over the age of 20 has been diagnosed with diabetes. This is higher than any other ethnicity, followed by 8.2 percent for the Hispanic community. In fact, the CDC claims that black adults are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than white adults.

There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack insulin-producing cells. Type 1 diabetics must take insulin injections to regulate their blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetics either produce very little insulin or their bodies are unable to properly process insulin — this is known as insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and is diagnosed most often in blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and women with a family history of diabetes.

According to WebMD, “90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and ethnicity. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.”

So what can you do to protect yourself? The most common preventative practices for diabetes include getting regular exercise coupled with following a healthy diet. Diabetes is directly impacted by the digestive system; therefore it is important for people with a family history of the disease to maintain a low-calorie, low-fat diet, to avoid developing diabetes. Studies have shown that saturated fats are implicated in insulin resistance and that balanced diets lower the risk of diabetes. Studies have also indicated that regular exercise can lead to correcting insulin resistance and reducing subsequent heart complications. Due to the fact that diabetes affects African Americans at a disproportionate rate, we should all be mindful of the risk factors for developing the disease and take steps to prevent it. But, of course, it all starts with you.
- delgie jones II

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