Slam Dunk Diabetes
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Diabetes is a disease that plagues many African Americans and Latinos. They have a higher death rate from diabetes than Caucasian Americans. This may be because of hereditary death in the United States. The death rates are still on the rise.
· There are two types of diabetes. Type one occurs when the pancreas decreases in the secretion of insulin. Type two occurs when the body refuses to use the insulin. This type of diabetes is more frequently found in younger children.
· Type two is beginning to become more frequent among to younger children.
· At least 10% of African Americans have it.
· At the age of 45 the risk of getting diabetes increases greatly
If not treated it can lead to:
o Blindness
o Kidney Disease
o Amputations
o Heart Attacks
o Stroke
Sources: The New Epidemic: Diabetes in Minority Populations