Is diabetes common in African-American women?
Diabetes is particularly widespread in African-American women. One in four African-American women older than 55 years of age has diabetes, nearly twice the rate of white women. African Americans experience higher rates of complications and medical visits due to diabetes compared with white women.14
Several factors contribute to the higher rate of diabetes in African-American women. Research suggests that many African Americans carry a gene that predisposes them toward impaired glucose tolerance, one of the risk factors for diabetes. African-American women are also more likely to be obese, another risk factor for diabetes. African-American women between the ages of 25 and 74 are more overweight compared to white women of the same age group. The location of body fat also plays a role. Women who have most of their body fat around the belly (“apple-shaped”) are at higher risk for diabetes than women who carry their weight on their hips and buttocks (“pear-shaped”). African-American women are more likely than white women to be apple-shaped. Another risk factor is lack of physical activity. In the government's National Health Interview Survey, 73% of black women reported that they participated in no vigorous leisure time physical activity, compared with 60% of white women.
Is diabetes treated any differently in African Americans?
Treatment and prevention of diabetes are no different for African-American women than for women of other races beginning with diet and exercise. African-American women should find reasonable ways to exercise, including walking, jogging, community sports, or in-home exercise videos. These life changes are critical to avoid the potentially devastating side effects of this disease.
