The American Diabetic Association cites a 20 year follow-up study that concludes the risk of Type 2 diabetes is greater in black women than white and the risk is increased with weight gain. It goes on to say that diabetes is disproportionately greater for African-Americans than the general population and goes as far as to call it "..a growing epidemic." Black women with diabetes are also at greater risk of heart disease.
Symptoms
Type 2 diabetes is the late onset of diabetes, usually seen in African-American women. Symptoms are unusual weight loss, extreme thirst and frequent urination, fatigue, irritability and hunger. Type 2 symptoms also include recurring infections, bruises or cuts that heal slowly, blurry vision, and numbness and tingling of the feet and hands.
Tests
The American Diabetes Association estimate as of 2010 3.7 million African-Americans have diagnosed diabetes. Common tests used to diagnose diabetes are a random glucose blood test, a fasting plasma glucose test, or an A1C. A random blood test does not require fasting prior to the test. A FPG, or fasting plasma glucose test requires fasting before drawing blood and is the test of choice for determining diabetes. An A1C test checks blood glucose levels over a period of two or three months. The Association warns that in some African-American women this test may show a false positive or negative due to variants in hemoglobin of people of African heritage and may not be a reliable test for this group.
Genetics
Carrie A. Zabel of the Mayo Clinic states that to form an accurate health history assessment, family diseases need to be sorted through and categorized as to the number of incidents, in which generation it occurred and at what age it was diagnosed to determine risk. The American Diabetic Association states type 2 diabetes has a strong tie to family genetics. Black women can look at the family history to detect past cases of diabetes, which is deemed to be a high risk factor for the disease.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Research Summary - Minority Women Have a Higher Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
- American Diabetes Association: The Diabetes Epidemic Among African Americans
- American Diabetes Association: For People of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian Heritage: Important Information about Diabetes Blood Tests
- Mayo Clinic: Family medical history can help predict health risk
- Mayo Clinic: Type 2 Diabetes: Symptpoms
