 |
 |
|
|
Add a paragraph introducing yourself or your subject. Include any material
you'd like to help create a webpage that is unique to you. Diabetes: African Americans Deadly Foe
Diabetes is having a devastating effect on the African American community. Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in African Americans and African Americans' death rates are twenty seven percent higher than whites.
Over 2.8 million African Americans have diabetes and one third of them don't know they have the disease. In addition, twenty five percent of African Americans between the ages of 65 - 74 have diabetes and one in four African American women, over the age of 55, have been diagnosed with the disease
The cause of diabetes is a mystery, but researchers believe that both genetics and environmental factors play roles in who will develop the disease.
.
Heredity
Researchers believe that African Americans and African Immigrants are predisposed to developing diabetes. Research suggests that African Americans and recent African immigrants have inherited a "thrifty gene" from their African ancestors.
This gene may have enabled Africans to use food energy more efficiently during cycles of feast and famine. Now, with fewer cycles of feast and famine, this gene may make weight control more difficult for African Americans and African Immigrants.
This genetic predisposition, coupled with impaired glucose tolerance, is often associated with the genetic tendency toward high blood pressure. People with impaired glucose tolerance have higher than normal blood glucose levels and are at a higher risk for developing diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes, commonly know as "sugar diabetes", is a condition that occurs when the body is unable to properly produce or use insulin. Insulin is needed by the body to process sugar, starches and other foods into energy. Diabetes is a chronic condition for which there is no known cure; diabetes is a serious disease and should not be ignored.
Diabetics often suffer from low glucose levels (sugar) in their blood. Low blood sugar levels can make you disorientated, dizzy, sweaty, hungry, have headaches, have sudden mood swings, have difficulty paying attention, or have tingling sensations around the mouth.
Types of Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels is higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type II diabetes. Pre-diabetes can cause damage to the heart and circulatory system, but pre-diabetes can often be controlled by controlling blood glucose levels. By controlling pre-diabetes you can often prevent or delay the onset of Type II diabetes.
Type I or juvenile-onset diabetes usually strikes people under the age of 20, but can strike at any age. Five to ten percent of African Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes are diagnosed with this type of the disease. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body produces little or no insulin and this type of diabetes must be treated with daily insulin injections.
Type II or adult onset diabetes is responsible for ninety to ninety-five percent of diagnosed diabetes cases in African Americans. Type II results from a condition where the body fails to properly use insulin. According to the American Diabetes Association, "Type II is usually found in people over 45, who have diabetes in their family, who are overweight, who don't exercise and who have cholesterol problems." In the early stages it can often be controlled with lifestyle changes, but in the later stages diabetic pills or insulin injections are often needed.
Pregnancy related diabetes or gestational diabetes can occur in pregnant women. Gestational diabetes is often associated with high glucose blood levels or hyperglycemia. Gestational diabetes affects about four percent of all pregnant women. The disease usually goes away after delivery, but women who suffer from gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for developing diabetes later in life.
Symptoms of Diabetes
The most common symptoms of diabetes include:
•excessive urination including frequent trips to the bathroom
•increased thirst
•increased appetite
•blurred vision
•unusual weight loss
•increased fatigue
•irritability
Complications from Diabetes
Diabetes can lead to many disabling and life threatening complications. Strokes, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and amputations are common complications that effect African Americans who have diabetes
Kidney Disease
"Diabetes is the second leading cause of end stage kidney disease in African Americans, accounting for about thirty percent of the new cases each year," says the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Up to twenty-one percent of people who develop diabetes will develop kidney disease.
Amputations
Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States. More than sixty percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in America occur among people with diabetes and African Americans are almost three times more likely to have a lower limb amputated due to diabetes than whites. According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 82,000 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed among people with diabetes in 2001.
Blindness
African Americans are twice as likely to suffer from diabetes related blindness. Diabetics can develop a condition called "Diabetic Retinopathy", a disease affecting the blood vessels of the eye, which can lead to impaired vision and blindness. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people from 20 - 74 years of age and up to 24,000 people loose their sight each year because of diabetes.
Heart Disease
People with diabetes are up to four times more likely to develop heart disease as people who don't have diabetes. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is more common in diabetics and can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and poor circulation throughout the body.
Diabetes Risk Factors
You have a greater risk for developing diabetes if you have any of the following:
Obesity
Family history of diabetes
Pre-diabetes
Low physical activity
Age greater than 45 years
High blood pressure
High blood levels of triglycerides
HDL cholesterol of less than 35
Previous diabetes during pregnancy or baby weighing more than 9 pounds
Diabetes has had a devastating effect on the African American community; it is the fifth leading cause of death and second leading cause of end stage kidney disease in African Americans.
African Americans suffer from complications from diabetes at a much higher rate than the rest of the population. African Americans are three times more likely to have a lower limb amputated because of diabetes and twice as likely to suffer from diabetes related blindness.
If you have any of the diabetes risk factors you should contact your physician and have a blood glucose test. Also discuss with your physician lifestyle changes you can take to lower your chances of developing diabetes.
About the Author
About the Author
Drahcir Semaj
Drahcir is a freelance writer who develops content for web sites on African American issues. He can be contacted at drahcir@drachirsemaj.com
Written by: Drahcir Semaj
|
05/21/2012
23% of Teens Have Diabetes or Prediabetes
The percent of U.S. teens with diabetes is on the rise, a new study suggests.
23% of Teens Have Diabetes or Prediabetes
05/18/2012
Diabetes Can Take a Toll on Your Emotions
THURSDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- Many people know diabetes -- both type 1 and type 2 -- can take a serious toll on physical health. But these blood-sugar disorders also can affect your emotions and, in turn, your emotions can wreak havoc on your diabetes control.
Diabetes Can Take a Toll on Your Emotions
05/21/2012
"Pre-diabetes," diabetes rising among U.S. teens
By Amy Norton NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The percentage of U.S. teenagers with "pre-diabetes" or full-blown type 2 diabetes has more than doubled in recent years -- though obesity and other heart risk factors have held steady, government researchers reported Monday. The good news, the researchers say, is that teen obesity rates leveled off between 1999 and 2008 -- hovering between 18 percent ...
"Pre-diabetes," diabetes rising among U.S. teens
05/21/2012
Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. teens facing diabetes
The proportion of U.S. adolescents with diabetes or borderline diabetes has jumped dramatically since the late 1990s, raising the possibility that this generation of young people may face high rates of heart disease and other complications as adults.
Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. teens facing diabetes
|
 |
Diabetes News Page
Home
Diabetes Resources Sitemap
Diabetes Resources
Important Diabetes Information
Are You At Risk Of Contracting Diabetes
It is unbelievable, but today there are at least 20 million people living with diabetes in America and the sad part is that it was possible to prevent and heal pre-diabetes and diabetes type 2 naturally with balanced nutrition, and basic exercise....more on diabetes
Ayurvedic Medicine For Type two diabetes
For Salacia Oblonga herb Capsules and Extract Write to Botanika herbalpowders@operamail.com treeseeds@operamail.com treeseeds@rediffmail.com : : : : WWW.SALACIAOBLONGACAPSULES.COM Traditional Indian medicine, herb Salacia oblonga may help treat...more on diabetes
Control diabetes
Salacia oblonga: Proven anti diabetic and anti obesity Ayurvedic herb To get this herb please visit www.salaciaoblongacapsules.com Salacia oblonga (Celastaceae), "Ponkoranti", is a woody plant found in the forests of Sri Lanka and India. The roots...more on diabetes
Diabetes and Your Eyes
Diabetes can play havoc with your eyes, and sometimes there are
no early sumptoms. So you may have no idea anything is wrong
until your eyesight is in danger.
Here are the main eye problems that can be caused, or made
worse, by diabetes.
...more on diabetes
Diabetes: Hypoglycemia Doesn't Impaired Cognition In Children with Type 1 Diabetes
Under results of a new study, hypoglycemia, which is a drop in
levels of blood sugar, and is severe enough to cause seizures or
coma in young children with type 1 diabetes (those who develop
the disease very early in life) does not appear to...more on diabetes
Accu Check Aviva Glucometer New for Diabetes Testing
Is Sleep Habits Linked to Diabetes
Diabetes Health Coaches Will Help To Combat Rising Diabetes Cases
|
|
