Diabetes: A Dangerous Enemy for African Americans

 Diabetes: A Dangerous Enemy for African Americans

African Americans are bearing the brunt of the deadly effects of diabetes. African Americans have a 27 percent higher mortality rate from diabetes compared to whites, making it the sixth greatest cause of death among this population.

A third of the more than 2.8 million African Americans living with diabetes are unaware that they have the condition. Furthermore, 25% of African Americans aged 65–74 have diabetes, and 1 in 4 African American women aged 55 and up have received a diabetes diagnosis.

Although the exact reason why some people acquire diabetes and others do not remains unknown, scientists do think that environmental factors and genetics both have an influence.

Heredity

Scientists have found a higher risk of diabetes in African Americans and African immigrants. Scientific studies have shown that people of African descent, including African Americans and recent immigrants, may have a "thrifty gene" passed down through generations.

Africans may have been able to make better use of the energy provided by food during periods of plenty and scarcity because of this gene. Now that there are fewer ebb and flow cycles, this gene might make it harder for African Americans and African immigrants to maintain a healthy weight.

There is a strong correlation between this hereditary propensity for hypertension and reduced glucose tolerance. Blood glucose levels that are higher than normal and an increased risk of developing diabetes are symptoms experienced by individuals with impaired glucose tolerance.

Is Diabetes a Tragedy?

When insulin production or usage becomes impaired, a condition known as diabetes (also called "sugar diabetes") sets up. Sugar, carbohydrates, and other carbs can't be converted into energy without insulin. Nobody should turn a blind eye to diabetes because it is a deadly illness with no known cure.

When blood sugar levels are low, it can be a major problem for diabetics. Symptoms of low blood sugar include disorientation, vertigo, perspiration, hunger, headaches, abrupt mood swings, inattention, and tingling feelings around the mouth.

Diabetes Types

A person is considered to have pre-diabetes if their blood glucose levels are consistently higher than normal, but they do not yet meet the diagnostic criteria for type II diabetes. Damage to the cardiovascular system and heart can result from pre-diabetes, which is frequently manageable by keeping blood glucose levels under control. It is frequently possible to avoid or postpone the development of Type II diabetes by managing pre-diabetes.

Anyone can develop type I diabetes; however, it most commonly affects those less than 20 years old. Between 5% and 10% of African Americans with diabetes have this specific form of the disease. The body's insulin production is severely impaired or nonexistent in those with type I diabetes, an autoimmune condition that requires daily injections of insulin.

Most African Americans with diabetes have type II, often known as adult onset diabetes, which accounts for 90–95 percent of all cases. When insulin is not used effectively by the body, type II diabetes develops. People over the age of 45, those with a family history of diabetes, excess body fat, a lack of physical activity, and high cholesterol are more likely to develop type II diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.” While lifestyle modifications are typically sufficient for early control, medication or injections of insulin may be required for later stages.

Women can get diabetes when pregnant, often known as gestational diabetes. High blood glucose levels, often known as hyperglycemia, are common symptoms of gestational diabetes. Roughly 4% of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes. Although gestational diabetes typically resolves on its own after giving birth, it increases a woman's chance of getting type 2 diabetes in the future.

Diabetes Signs and Symptoms

Diabetes is characterized by the following most often:

an overabundance of urine, accompanied with repeated restroom visits

heightened thirst

an increase in hunger

impaired eyesight

unorthodox decrease in body mass

heightened exhaustion

lack of patience

Diabetes and Its Complications

Complications from diabetes can be debilitating and even fatal. African Americans with diabetes are disproportionately likely to experience serious complications such as blindness, renal failure, stroke, heart disease, and amputations.

Illness of the Kidneys

"Diabetes accounts for about thirty percent of the new cases each year in African Americans, making it the second leading cause of end stage kidney disease," states the National renal Foundation of Illinois. Diabetic kidney damage might affect up to 21% of diabetic patients.

Limb loss

The majority of lower-limb amputations in the US that do not involve trauma are caused by diabetes. People with diabetes account for almost 60% of all non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the US, and the rate of amputation for African Americans is over three times higher than for whites. In 2001, patients with diabetes accounted for approximately 82,000 cases of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Impairment of vision

The risk of diabetic retinopathy is two times higher in African Americans. "Diabetic Retinopathy" is a disease that can occur in people with diabetes. It affects the eye's blood vessels and can cause visual impairment or even blindness. The major cause of new cases of blindness in adults aged 20–74 is diabetes, which accounts for up to 24,000 cases of blindness annually.

Cardiovascular Disease

Diabetics have a risk of cardiovascular disease that is up to four times higher than the general population. Diabetes increases the risk of atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries harden and narrow, which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and impaired blood flow to other parts of the body.

Danger Factors for Diabetes

Any of the following conditions increases your chance of getting diabetes:

Snacking on Candy

Diabetes in the family

Diabetes mellitus susceptibile

Insufficient exercise

Over the age of 45

High BP

An excess of triglycerides in the blood

Levels of good cholesterol (HDL) below 35

A history of gestational diabetes or a baby that weighs more than nine pounds

When it comes to African Americans, diabetes is the second most common cause of end-stage kidney disease and the fifth most common cause of mortality overall. The impact on the community has been catastrophic.

Compared to the general population, African Americans experience a disproportionately high number of diabetes-related complications. African Americans have diabetes-related blindness at a rate twice as high as the general population and lower limb amputations at a rate three times higher.

A blood glucose test and a visit to the doctor are necessary steps in determining whether you are at risk for diabetes. Talk to your doctor about other lifestyle adjustments you can make to lessen your risk of diabetes.

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