We’ve all experienced it.  Grandma has to get her insulin before Sunday dinner, mama needs to take her blood pressure medicine, Grand-dad has a sore on his foot that just isn’t healing, auntie needs to check her sugar. And on and on it goes.  Diabetes is one of the highest causes of morbidity and mortality in this country.  It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. What is worse is that this disease is fully preventable.  Studies have shown that a proper diet, and exercise can not only reduce your need for medications with this disease but can cure it all together if done early enough.  So what is this disease? Who is susceptible to it? How is it treated? And how can one prevent it?  If these are questions that you want answers to, continue reading and you will soon find out about this frequent killer that is affecting our black communities so rampantly. 

Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action or both.  In a healthy person, blood sugar levels, which fluctuate, based on food intake, exercise and other factors are kept within an acceptable range by insulin.  Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It regulates blood sugar and helps the body absorb excess sugar from the bloodstream.  In a person with diabetes, blood sugar levels are not adequately controlled by insulin. There are several types of diabetes. 

Type 1 diabetes previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes, develops when the body’s immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells.  These are the only cells in the body which produces insulin.  To survive, people with Type I diabetes must have insulin delivered by injection or a pump.  This form of diabetes affects children and young adults, although the disease can occur at any age.  Type I diabetes accounts for about 5-10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.  Risk factors may be autoimmune, genetic, or environmental. 

Type II diabetes previously called non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. As the need for insulin rises, the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce it. Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes and its complications. Clinically-based reports and regional studies suggest that type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents, although still rare, is being diagnosed more frequently, particularly in American Indians, African Americans, and Hispanic/Latino Americans. It is an increasing problem for both children/teens and adults today.  Why? More Americans are putting themselves at-risk for Type 2 diabetes because of the growing problem of obesity.  Reasons for this includes a number of lifestyle changes such as drinking more sodas, skipping meals, eating larger portions, eating out more, and less physical activity (i.e. driving more and not walking, or exercising less).  

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