Diabetes in the African American Community
Diabetes has been running rapid through the African American community for some time now and there is still has no cure. According to the American Diabetes Association, African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes than whites, affecting 13.3 percent of African Americans over the age of 20 and 25 percent over the age of 55. There are two kinds of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 is usually found during adolescent years occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that converts sugar and starches into energy. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, also occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or cells ignore the insulin. The job of insulin is to take the sugar from the cells into the body. When a person has diabetes, the sugar may be building up in the blood.
Although diabetes is a serious problem, there are still ways for diabetes patients to care for themselves to start living a healthy life. The first way to get on track to a healthy life is to start by what we eat. For diabetes patients, this means planning your meals according to blood sugar control to keep your sugar level at a normal range. Analyzing what you eat is also a way to prevent diabetes. People with diabetes have to be increasingly mindful and try to prevent other health issues because they are now faced with an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and other complications due to poor circulation, according to the ADA.
Other ways to live a healthier life is to be physically active, stop smoking and drinking alcohol, and to visit the doctor regularly. The American Diabetes Association website lists a “Recipe of the Day.” Click the link below to find tasty and healthy recipes like Lemon Chicken Stir Fry to try tonight with your family!
“Recipe of the Day” by the American Diabetes Association.
Jazzy’s Facts: Jazzy Davenport is a new GMO staff writer and a junior at Columbia College Chicago in pursuit of a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Journalism with concentration in Reporting and Writing Sports. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
*Photo by GMO Photographer Billy Montgomery. Model: Dawn Elle Ray