Over 29 million Americans⁽¹⁾ have Diabetes. That’s about 1 out of 11 people living in the United States. The problem is especially severe among Black Americans. 13.2% of all African Americans aged 20 years or older have diagnosed diabetes⁽²⁾. African Americans are 1.7 times more likely to get diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.The United States Office of Minority Health states that Black Americans are more likely to suffer complications from diabetes, such as end-stage renal disease and lower extremity amputations⁽³⁾.

4 Terrible Facts about Black Americans and Diabetes

1. African American adults are 80 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
2. In 2010, non-Hispanic blacks were 3.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with end-stage renal disease as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
3. In 2012, non-Hispanic blacks were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for lower limb amputations as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
4. In 2013, African Americans were twice as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.

These facts should get your attention! What can you do?

News You can Use Right Now!

There are plenty of good sources of information about diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)⁽⁴⁾ , the American Diabetes Association⁽⁵⁾,  and the Office of Minority Health to name a few sites.  Jay Harold recently found information about a change in labeling from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about Metformin. Why is this important? Metformin is one of the most commonly used diabetes medications and is available as a generic drug.

The FDA said that Metformin can be used safely in patients with mild impairment in kidney function and some patients with moderate impairment in kidney function⁽⁶⁾.  Metformin-containing medicines are available by prescription only and are used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. The current drug labeling strongly recommends against metformin use in some patients whose kidneys do not normally work because the use of metformin in these patients can increase the risk of developing a severe and potentially deadly condition called lactic acidosis, in which too much lactic acid builds up in the blood.

African Americans were twice as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.

The FDA has given many people with reduced kidney function a chance to use an inexpensive and proven medication.  Metformin was one the top 50 drugs sold in the United States in 2012 as a generic⁽⁷⁾. Your doctor may find Metformin useful addition for patients with reduced kidney function .

Medical expenses⁽⁸⁾ are the leading cause of personal bankruptcies in the United States. Jay Harold will continue to look for ways to save you money.

Click this link to get free Health and Wealth information to improve your life. Play the free  “Slow Roll Through Civil Rights” Game found on the Jay Harold website. Enjoyed this post? Share it and read more here.

 Bibliography

1. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/index.html
2. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/high-risk-populations/treatment-african-americans.html
3. http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=18
4. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/home/
5. http://www.diabetes.org/
6. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm494829.htm
7. http://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2013/july2013/top-200-drugs-of-2012
8. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/simple-thrifty-living/top-10-reasons-people-go-_b_6887642.html