Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. It affects
about 37 million Americans, including children. This is more people than the entire populations of
Florida, Georgia and South Carolina added together. Problems from diabetes include heart disease,
stroke, lower limb amputation, impotence, kidney failure, damage to the eyes and it is linked to some
types of cancer. Death is also possible from diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is responsible for 90-95% of all diagnosed diabetes cases and it is increasing rapidly not
only in the U.S. but globally. While this has a major impact on healthcare costs, more important is the
impact on individuals and communities. The impact on Black families is also profound as the numbers
above show they are much more affected by this chronic condition than either Whites or Hispanics.
I would like to focus on type 2 diabetes because it is preventable through the choices we make as
individuals. Even people at high-risk of type 2 diabetes, can prevent or delay this debilitating disease by
making some lifestyle modifications. But first must come the awareness and acceptance that it is not
just “a little sugar”. If we don’t move away from thinking this way, then we won’t understand the
urgency of managing this chronic health problem. Being aware of how serious diabetes is must be a first
and necessary step before action can be taken to prevent the worst outcomes.
Secondly, we must acknowledge that some people don’t have the luxury of many choices. Some people
do not have ready access to healthier foods or safe places for physical activity based on where they live,
their work schedule, transportation options or other factors. This limits the personal lifestyle
modifications that can be made. As a society, we must continue to press forward for equal access to
education and opportunity for all members of society.
Fortunately, many resources exist for people already affected by diabetes and pre-diabetes. Some of
these resources are available with a phone call, and some of them are available on-line or in-person.
Accessing these can be as simple as making a call to your local Health Department.