According to the American Diabetes Association, over 30 million children and adults in the United States are affected with Diabetes, 84 million have pre-diabetes, and one in four adults are not even aware that they have diabetes. Today is Diabetes Alert Day, observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in March, bringing awareness to the seriousness of diabetes.
While it’s the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition in the black community. Diabetes is 60 percent more common in blacks than their white counterparts. Risk factors related to diabetes in blacks are high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, hypertension, and cigarette smoking.
In addition, complications associated with Diabetes include diabetic eye disease, kidney disease, amputation, and cardiovascular disease. Because of the seriousness of diabetes in the black community, it is important to be educated and aware of how you are affected. Knowing your family’s history of diabetes and assessing your lifestyle is the start of knowing your risk. Because one and four Americans are unaware that they are living with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has a Diabetes Risk Test to see if you are at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
So how can you lower your risk, prevent, or manage Type 2 diabetes? It can be as easy as making simple lifestyle changes.
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Get Active
As little as 30 minutes of physical activity or moving around canlower your risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes. Simple movement or walking works. There is no need to feel as though you have to strenuous physical activity. Being active can also lower your blood pressure and blood glucose; while also improving your blood circulation.
Eating Habits
Poor eating habits not only contribute Type 2 diabetes, but cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Eating more nourishing food like fruits, vegetables, non-starchy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes will give your body the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and nutrients it needs to prevent and manage the disease.
Lower Your Weight
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Being overweight can put you at risk for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Losing a mere 10-15 pounds can help prevent or manage health conditions associated with Type 2 diabetes. Although losing weight can seem hard to do, it is as simple as getting active and changing your eating habits. Always remember to start small because those small wins make bigger progress.
Get Educated
Being educated is the first step to combating Type 2 diabetes and the American Diabetes Association has programs and initiatives targeted to the African American Community. The Choose to Live: Sisters Strong Together program is designed to help African American women learn ways to better take care of themselves.
Live Empowered is an initiative with a targeted approach educating about diabetes through culturally appropriate materials, community-based activities, workshops, and events.
Elissa Mirsky, known to most as Elle, is a published author and former editor-in-chief of Bold Magazine. She believes food shouldn’t be boring and every meal should be fashionably edible. Follow her on Instagram @mylifebeingelle where she is documenting her journey to eat well, live life, and love self.
