Type 2 Diabetes: A Disease Where Racial And Ethnic Disparities Continue To Persist

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In the United States, about 1 in 10 people have diabetes - most of which are cases of Type 2 diabetes. Certain ethnic and racial groups, however, are disproportionately affected by the disease: American Indian and Alaskan Natives are twice as likely as white people to develop Type 2 diabetes. Black and Hispanic people are also more likely than white people to develop Type 2 diabetes. These communities of color are also more likely to suffer health complications related to diabetes.

In the past, genetics was thought to play a major role in the development of Type 2 diabetes. But it's now known there are additional contributing factors called social determinants of health - such as economic stability, education access and quality and access to healthcare - that are more likely to play a role in someone's likelihood of developing the disease.

Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that prevents your pancreas from making insulin, which is a hormone that helps your body use blood sugar for energy. It is most diagnosed in children and teenagers. Type 2 diabetes is more often diagnosed in those ages 45 and older. (With the obesity epidemic, however, younger people are increasingly being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.)

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes insulin resistant, meaning it has difficulty using blood sugar for energy. This means a lot of sugar is left in your bloodstream, which can cause serious health issues over time.

Environmental and lifestyle factors are largely implicated in the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes - factors that are also more common in those who are more likely to lack economic stability, education and access to healthcare. They include:

• Being overweight or obese. Obesity can cause insulin resistance. About 90% of adults who have Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Along with Type 2 diabetes, obesity increases your risk of conditions like cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension (high blood pressure), several types of cancers and osteoarthritis.
• A sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity not only helps control weight, but it also helps keep your blood sugar in check. Those who get less than 150 minutes of exercise per week are more likely to develop obesity, diabetes and heart disease, among other chronic conditions.
• Smoking. People who smoke are 30% - 40% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than non-smokers. Why? The chemicals in cigarettes cause cell damage that make your body less responsive to insulin. And if you continue to smoke while you have diabetes, the disease is more difficult to control.
• Having high blood pressure. People who develop Type 2 diabetes often have high blood pressure, as risk factors for high blood pressure are similar to risk factors for diabetes. (Think: having obesity, living a sedentary lifestyle and smoking.)

Health Disparities That Are Linked To Type 2 Diabetes

When someone is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, they're often blamed for it and they feel helpless to change their condition. But communities of color who are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes are also more likely to live in conditions that make it difficult to achieve optimal health. They often live in food deserts, or areas without access to fresh, healthy foods - making fast food more convenient, cheaper and expedient. They are less likely to live in areas with trees and green spaces, making it more difficult to spend time staying active in the fresh air. It's no coincidence that those who live in less walkable neighborhoods have higher rates of obesity and diabetes.

Not only that, but they're also less likely to live near healthcare centers of excellence - and in some instances less likely to have stable health insurance coverage - so it's difficult to see a primary care doctor and get a diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes, which would help them take steps to control the condition. In fact, a recent study that Henry Ford Health contributed to found that white people with Type 2 diabetes were more likely than people of color to be prescribed cardiorenal protective drugs (which help control heart and kidney issues that stem from diabetes).

Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes & Dangers Of Uncontrolled Diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes can wreak havoc on the body. It can cause vision loss, heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, gum disease, neuropathy (or numbness in the extremities), the need for lower extremity amputation and more. The sooner you get it diagnosed and start treatment, the better the prognosis.

Important symptoms of diabetes to be aware of include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Blurry vision
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Cuts or wounds that are slow to heal

For those who have diabetes and are in a low-income bracket, financial assistance is available. Henry Ford Health also offers free diabetes support groups, financial assistance and nutrition counseling for those who qualify. But in order to begin fixing the problem at its root, we must focus on leveling social determinants of health: building local grocery stores with affordable produce to eliminate food deserts, adding green spaces to all of our neighborhoods and making them walkable, and expanding community outreach so that healthcare services are easily accessible to everyone.

Kimberlydawn Wisdom, MD, MS, FACEP, is the Senior Vice President of Community Health & Equity and Chief Wellness & Diversity Officer for Henry Ford Health. Read more about Dr. Wisdom.

Categories : ParentWell

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