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Diabetes is one of the most serious health risks facing African Americans. Millions of people are either suffering from the illness or are likely to become diabetic. Dr. Ian Smith says the numbers are a wake-up call. He’s spreading the word about health and fitness, and what African Americans can do to reduce their risk and/or curb their symptoms.
“The bad news about type 2 diabetes is that it’s rising. It’s rising particularly high in African Americans because it’s correlating to the obesity epidemic,” he explains. “What we now know is that the major cause is being overweight and obese. More than 20 million people are diabetic and more are pre-diabetic.”
Type 2 diabetes contributes to many ailments in the black community including hypertension and high cholesterol. Fortunately, type 2 diabetes can be controlled through healthy dietary choices and exercise. According to Dr. Smith, unlike with other illnesses, type 2 diabetics and those prone to developing the disease can make themselves healthier by applying a few lifestyle modifications.
“The good news, is that we know that if you exercise and change what you eat — even just a little — you can lower blood sugars, you can help bring your diabetes under control.” And the doctor has seen the results firsthand. “I’ve worked with several people personally who became … insistent on exercising and started eating right. Not only did they cut their diabetes medications in half, but some of them got their sugar so low that they could go off medications,” says Dr. Smith.
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Dr. Smith emphasizes education as the first line of defense in fighting the disease. “Diabetes is largely a lifestyle-controllable issue. If you’re able to implement some of these things [and] if you can make these changes, you’ll realize that you have so much more control over what’s happening,” he says. –todd williams
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