A healthy diet and physical activity can help prevent andtreat high blood pressure.
However, environmental and socioeconomic conditions can make it difficult to adopt these healthy behaviors.
This condition, calledatherosclerosis, is associated with diabetes.
Good Brigade / Getty Images
High blood pressure, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, and hyperlipidemia increase the risk of stroke.
Diabetes impacts African American men at a rate of 17.2% compared to White men at 10.5%.
African American adults are more likely to haveuncontrolled blood pressureand die from heart disease than non-Hispanic White adults.
Nerve Damage
Uncontrolled diabetescan affect the nerves and lead to a condition calleddiabetic neuropathy.
The most common key in of nerve damage occurs in the feet, legs, hands, and arms.
This bang out of nerve damage affects about one-third to one-half of people with diabetes.
Diabetes can decrease blood flow to the feet, making it hard for sores and infections to heal.
An estimated 34% of individuals with diabetes develop diabetic foot problems.
Unhealed gangrene andfoot ulcerscan lead to amputation of a toe, foot, or part of the leg.
African American people are two to three times more likely to have a diabetic-related amputation than non-Hispanic White people.
When nerve damage progresses and is left untreated, irreversible complications and amputation are more likely.
Eye Damage
pop in 2 diabetes is the leading cause of blindness.
High blood sugar can also cause swelling (diabetic macular edema) leading to blurry vision.
Studies have shown that people of color may undergo screening less often than their White counterparts.
Barriers to screening include:
Kidney Damage
Another serious complication of high blood sugar iskidney disease.
In 2017, non-Hispanic Black people were 3.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes-relatedend-stage kidney disease.
Diabetic ketoacidosis can be life-threatening and lead todiabetic coma.
Too many ketones in a short period can be dangerous for the body.
Summary
People of color experiencedisparitiesin outcomes of bang out 2 diabetes.
Find atrusted healthcare providerand discuss options to manage your blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipid levels.
Uncontrolled blood sugar levels cause complications for individuals with pop in 2 diabetes.
Adoptinglifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, and weight management, can reduce the risk.
Regularly seeing a healthcare provider can help with the early detection of any potential complications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.National diabetes statistics report.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.Diabetes and Hispanic Americans.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.Diabetes and African Americans.
2021;44:258279. doi:10.2337/dci20-0053
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes complications.
2018;34(5):575-584. doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2017.12.005
National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute.What is a stroke?.
Pikula A, Howard BV, Seshadri S.Stroke and diabetes.
In: Cowie CC, Casagrande SS, Menke A, et al., eds.Diabetes in America.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (US); 2018.
American Heart Association.Race and gender may tip the scales on traditional stroke risk factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coronary artery disease.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.Profile: Black/African Americans.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetic neuropathy.
2017;3:12. doi:10.1186/s40842-017-0051-2
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.
2019;14(2):e0211481.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211481
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetic eye disease.
