AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND
DIABETES
More than two million African Americans are estimated to
have diabetes. It is a chronic disease that has no cure.
Nearly 6% of African American men and 8% of African American
women have this disease. Diabetes disproportionately affects
African Americans at a rate nearly double that of White
Americans. In addition, diabetes death rates for African
Americans are 2.5 times higher than their White
counterparts.
While the number of African Americans affected is
significant, many are not aware that they have the disease
until they develop one of its life-threatening
complications. Education and screening are important factors
in the preventions, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes.
The Project acknowledges the seriousness of this disease and
its impact on Black women, and has taken efforts to heighten
awareness.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce
or properly use insulin, a hormone that converts sugar,
starches and other food into energy needed in daily life.
While there is no known cause for diabetes, genetics and
other factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise, appear
to play a major part. This has important implications for
Black women. According to the National Center for Health
Statistics, over half of Black women over 20 years of age
are overweight. There are two basic types of diabetes:
 |
Type I – the body does not produce any insulin.
African Americans with Type I must take a daily insulin
injection to stay alive. The onset of Type I occurs most
often during puberty. |
|
Type II – the body does not make enough, or properly
use insulin. Type II is more common in African Americans
and the risk increases with age. Nearly 25% of Black 65
to 74 years old have Type II diabetes. Other risk
factors include a family history of diabetes, low levels
of physical activity and/or being overweight. Type II is
the most preventable form of diabetes when early
attention is paid to weight, diet and exercise. |
Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of the disease
that develops during pregnancy. This condition usually goes
away after pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes are at
an increased risk for developing Type II diabetes. This
condition is 80% more frequent in Black women than in White
women.
If left untreated, both Type I and Type II diabetes may
cause more serious problems, such as vision difficulties,
nerve damage, infections and high blood pressure. These, in
turn, may lead to blindness, amputation, kidney disease,
stroke and heart attack. African Americans experience higher
rates of at least three serious complications including
blindness, amputation and kidney failure.
Symptoms of Diabetes
| Type
I |
Type II
|
| Frequent
urination |
Any
of the Type I symptoms |
| Unusual
thirst |
Frequent
infections |
| Extreme
hunger |
Blurred
vision |
| Unusual
weight loss |
Cuts
and/or bruises that are slow to heal |
| Extreme
fatigue |
Tingling/numbness
in hands and/or feet |
| Irritability |
Recurring
skin, gum or bladder infections |
Health Care Issues
|
Diabetes
and Pregnancy – Doctors no longer discourage women
with diabetes from becoming pregnant. Key to a healthy
pregnancy for a woman with diabetes is tight blood
glucose control before she is pregnant and during her
pregnancy. Because the early weeks in a pregnancy are so
important, it is a good idea to be in good blood glucose
control three to six months before planning a pregnancy. |
|
Birth
Control and Safe Sex – Discuss with your health care
provider the possibilities of the birth control pill
raising your blood glucose levels. Using the pill for
more than a year or two may also increase the risk for
diabetes complication. |
|
Menopause
– For women with diabetes, it is important to know
that menopause affects your blood glucose levels. The
hormones estrogen and progesterone keep your menstrual
cycle going. They also affect your blood glucose levels.
They blunt the effect of insulin and encourage the liver
to make glucose. Menopause changes this. When your body
stops making estrogen, your insulin needs change. The
changes pose a special concern for women with diabetes.
Discuss these issues with your health care provider. |
The Importance of Diabetes
Education, Screening, and Access to Quality Medical Care
Diabetes is a disease that requires a lifetime of medical
care and self-treatment. Improvements in the diagnosis and
care of diabetes have made it a more management condition.
As with many illnesses, early detection is key to optimal
treatment. Through disease education and screening, the risk
factors can be significantly reduced. In addition, African
American women must have access to supplies, equipment and
quality medical management. With these resources, life can
be prolonged and complications that primarily cause the
expense and suffering associated with the disease can be
reduced. African Americans are less likely to have access to
many of the health care services needed to effectively
manage the disease. Medicare and Medicaid, the federal
government’s two largest health care programs, as well as
many commercial insurances, do not offer comprehensive
coverage.
Resources:
American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Facts and
Figures, 1997
National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United
States, 1998 With Socioeconomic Status and Health Chartbook.
Hyattsville, MD: 1998
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