Diabetes affects many African Americans/Black persons. A recent study found that biological risk factors—including weight, fat around the abdomen, and other hereditary factors are largely responsible for high rates of diabetes among African Americans/Black people. (Citation)
Diabetes affects how your body uses glucose or blood sugar. Glucose is essential to our health because it's an important source of energy for the cells that make up our muscles and tissues. Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes may have no symptoms, but they’re at risk for eventually developing Type 2 diabetes. Having Type 2 diabetes also puts you at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Making positive lifestyle changes (losing weight, eating a diet high in fiber, and regular exercise) can help minimize known risk factors, and help reduce the possibility of developing diabetes.
Screening for prediabetes is an important way to care for the health of you and your family.
If you are between 35 and 70 years old and are either overweight or obese, talk with your doctor about being screened for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. (Reference: US Preventive Services Task Force). You can also complete this CDC Prediabetes Screening Test (citation). This screener is used to assess risk for prediabetes, but it is not diagnostic. Answer these seven simple questions. For each "Yes" answer, add the number of points listed. All "No" answers are 0 points.
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If you scored 5 or higher
You are at increased risk for having prediabetes and are at high risk for type 2 diabetes. However, only your doctor can tell for sure if you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Talk to your doctor to see if additional testing is needed.
You are at increased risk for having prediabetes and are at high risk for type 2 diabetes. However, only your doctor can tell for sure if you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Talk to your doctor to see if additional testing is needed.
It can be hard to find social services to help with your physical and emotional health. TakeAction is a social care network that connects people and programs – making it easy for you to find the social services you need in your community.
Here are some other resources:
- Individual or group health insurance members: See your health care provider. If you don't have a provider, visit your insurance plan's website to find a doctor in your area. Most insurance providers have a "Find Doctor" feature on their websites.
- Medicaid members: See your health care provider. If you don't have a provider, contact a state Medicaid office, or contact your local health department.
- Medicare members: See your health care provider. If you don't have a provider, contact your local
Here are some additional online tools to help you find a doctor or nurse in your community:
- National Medical Association (NMA) Physician Locator. The NMA represents African American/Black doctors and can help you find an African American/Black doctor in your area.
- HRSA Health Centers. Contact HRSA to make an appointment (877-464-4772). HRSA provides care even if you have no health insurance. Open weekdays 8am to 8pm Eastern Time (except federal holidays).