In order to have a comprehensive understanding of Diabetes, it is important to acknowledge the hundreds of years of socioeconomic disparities that exist among ethnic groups, especially African Americans. There is no secret that communities of color bear a disproportionate burden with diabetes compared to other groups. Such factors like inadequate housing, food deserts, and limited or no access to quality healthcare that exist among minorities. It is important to understand the direct link that shows people living in these environments have higher mortality rates with Diabetes and its complications ranking as the 7th leading cause of death in the US according to the CDC. According to the Office of Minority Health, African Americans adults are 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes. Therefore, it’s impossible to retain this data with acknowledging co-occurring factors that attribute to such high numbers. As we go on this journey to gain control of our health, let’s make a commitment to build and build a new system that nourishes the mind, body and spirit, while exploring ways we can help each other.
There are several types of diabetes including Type I, Type II, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes. Type I typically occurs in young children when their bodies have an autoimmune response depleting the body of its ability to produce insulin. Gestational is a rise in blood sugar that occurs during pregnancy and then returns to normal once the mother gives birth. Prediabetes is a term used to classify people who have abnormally high glucose level with other risk factors but are not high enough to be classified as Type I or II.
Type II Diabetes is the most commonly diagnosis, affecting an estimated 4.9 million African Americans throughout the US (CDC, 2020). It develops when the sugar in the blood is too high for too long. Each person’s body responds differently on how long they can fight the high levels. Eventually our bodies get tired and starts to have an autoimmune response to the elevation of sugar. This response like type I diabetes, destroys beta cells in the pancreas that create insulin. Over time, your body does not produce the amount you need to stabilize sugar levels, or your body will no longer react to the insulin being produced.
The foods we eat play a role in the elevation of blood sugar. We get most of our energy and calories from Carbohydrates like vegetables, grains, pasta, bread. Also, proteins like beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish and beans. Our bodies convert carbohydrates into glucose (sugar) that is absorbed into the blood and used for energy. You can expect your glucose levels to rise within 15 minutes after consuming a carbohydrate. Insulin is what helps your body release excess glucose. Insulin is naturally occurring hormone and plays an important role on how much sugar is metabolized into energy or how much lingers in your blood that turns into fat (ADA, 2018).
In order to get a diagnosis of Type II diabetes you need to see your healthcare provider and have blood testing. One test is a fasting glucose test. The normal fasting blood sugar range for a healthy adult with no known diabetes or underlying condition is 70-99 and this number should only rise slightly after eating to no higher than 140. A fasting glucose test only gives that day’s readings, but a Hemoglobin A1c measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood that has attached to glucose giving an average blood glucose level over 3 months. The A1c is the most commonly used test to determine Diabetes status. The higher the A1c the poorer glucose control you have. The target range for each person is different based on any other health issues and age. The goal for most adults is below 5.7, which means your average blood sugar is from 70-115. If your A1c ranges from 5.8-6.5 you fall into the prediabetic stage with blood sugars ranging from 130-150. and any number over 6.5 is Diabetes.
References:
American Diabetes Association (2018) Managing Type II Diabetes Wiley: New Jersey
CDC (2020) National Diabetes Statistic Report: Estimates of Diabetes and its Burden in the United States
US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (2018) Diabetes and African Americans.
Wang,J. and Geng, L. (2019) Effects of Socioeconomic Status on Physical and Psychological Health: Lifestyle as a mediator: International Journal of Environmental Res Public Health (2) 281
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