Diabetes Black Women's Health Imperative

News for You

Diabetes Death Rates Higher in Black Than White Youths
During the past two and a half decades, consistent racial disparities have existed in diabetes mortality among young Americans, with death rates for black youths significantly higher those for white youths.

Family Ties Raise Risk of Diabetes Complications
The risk that a person with diabetes will develop complications of the disease such as eye, nerve and kidney damage appears to be higher in women and families, says researchers.

The Health-Wise Woman Diabetes Prevention Education Project is a culturally-appropriate and gender-specific intervention that promotes regular physical activity and healthy eating among Black women in order to help prevent type 2 diabetes, a disease where lifestyle and behavior affect risk.

Through our partnership with national and community-based organizations, including the AME Church Connectional Health Commission, Mocha Moms, Inc., Women's Home & Overseas Missionary Society of the AME Zion Church and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Black women are being trained, educated and given the resources needed to make a difference in communities with the highest diabetes mortality rates among Black women, such as Atlanta, Ga.; Baton Rouge, La.; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Los Angeles, Calif.; and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Imperative uses the following key strategies to deliver its prevention and education curriculum: (1) collaborative partnerships with national organizations with female memberships ranging from 5,000 to 1.5 million that also have existing health initiatives for Black women; (2) training to certify Black women as health-wise leaders in their communities; (3) an evidence-based curriculum to support the facilitation of community workshops; and (4) creating and disseminating "free" educational resources that explain diabetes and how to prevent it in our families and communities.

Since 11 percent of African Americans have the disease, but at least one-third of those afflicted don't know it, the Health-Wise Woman Diabetes Prevention Education Project aims to increase awareness of the disease and the knowledge needed to prevent Black women from getting type 2 diabetes and dying disproportionately.