Taking control of your diabetes: managing the disease is key to the quality of your life

WHEN Luther Vandross died in July 2005 due to complications from diabetes, fans and admirers lost an icon, but someone even closer to him lost so much more. Vandross' mother, Mary Ida Vandross, who has lost her husband, grandson and two other children (all from complications of diabetes), was undoubtedly

Vandross' biggest fan and cheerleader. After having lost so much, she is now on a crusade to urge those impacted by diabetes to take control of their health before it's too late. Vandross has teamed with Novo Nordisk's "Diabetes Aware" campaign, a national public service initiative to raise awareness about diabetes detection and management. She joins a number of celebrities who are getting the word out about diabetes awareness, including blues icon B.B. King and Patti LaBelle, both of whom have worked with Life-Scan, Inc.--makers of glucose monitoring systems--to spread the word about diabetes detection, management and control. While celebrities and other notable figures have been aggressively getting the word out about diabetes awareness and management, the disease is still hitting the African-American community particularly hard. More than 3 million African-Americans over the age of 20 have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Even more alarming is a recent study that reported African-Americans tend to have poorer diabetes control than Whites. A group of researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine evaluated more than 11 studies reporting hemoglobin AIC levels for both Blacks and Whites with diabetes. The studies revealed higher AIC levels in Blacks compared to Whites. A person's A1C level, which should be less than 7 percent, reflects your glucose (or blood sugar control) over the past three months and gives a better idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan is working.

Some experts say there could be a number of reasons that African-Americans are hit the hardest, including lack of awareness about the disease. But some experts say there's another factor that is not often highlighted. "Oftentimes, it's denial," says Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., M.A.C.P., acting director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health. "We sometimes see patients who have a family history of diabetes and they know what their relatives go through, and if they have similar early symptoms, they deny it. They may feel that if they go to the doctor, they will then develop all these complications that they see their loved ones, friends and family members go through."

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to very serious and often life-threatening complications, which include blindness, kidney disease, lower-limb amputations, heart disease and stroke. And while diabetes-linked complications and death are slightly higher in African-Americans than other groups, good diabetes management and control can help reduce your risk for many of the diabetes-related complications, according to medical experts. "There's very good scientific evidence that shows that by controlling your diabetes, particularly your blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure, really can greatly reduce your risk of complications from diabetes," says Dr. Rodgers.

Managing your diabetes includes working with your healthcare team to make healthy lifestyle choices. It is important to follow your diabetes food plan, eat the right portions of healthy foods, get 30 to 60 minutes of activity on most days of the week, maintain a healthy weight and take medicines as directed by your doctor. Consulting with your doctor and making office visits at least twice a year can help you detect and treat problems early.

FOUR WAYS TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DIABETES

* Learn about diabetes

* Know your diabetes ABCs (AC1 levels (blood glucose or sugar), blood pressure and cholesterol)

* Manage your diabetes

* Get routine care

To find out more about diabetes management and control visit:

www.niddk.nih.gov www.ndep.nih.gov www.diabetes.org www.cdc.gov/diabetes

* Source: The National Diabetes Education Program

COPYRIGHT 2006 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning