Diabetes and African Americans

African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. In addition, they are more likely to suffer complications from diabetes, such as end-stage renal disease and lower extremity amputations. Although African Americans have the same or lower rate of high cholesterol as their non-Hispanic white counterparts, they are more likely to have high blood pressure.

African American adults are twice as likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
In 2006, African American men were 2.2 times as likely to start treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
In 2005, diabetic African Americans were twice as likely as diabetic Whites to be hospitalized.
In 2006, African Americans were 2.3 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.

At a glance – Diagnosed Cases of Diabetes:

**Age-adjusted percentages of physician-diagnosed diabetes among persons 20 years of age and over, 2003-2006 (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES)**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/Non- Hispanic White Ratio
13.2	6.4	2.1

Source: CDC, 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 54.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf [PDF | 12.2MB]

**Age-adjusted percentages of persons 18 years of age and over with diabetes, 2007 (National Health Interview Survey, NHIS)**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/Non- Hispanic White Ratio
12.5	6.4	2.0

Source: CDC 2009. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: 2007. Table 8.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_240.pdf

At a glance – Prevalence Rate:

**Age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes per 100 population (2006)**
	African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
Men	8.1	5.5	1.5
Women	8.8	5.0	1.8
Total	8.5	5.2	1.6

Source: CDC 2009. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/prev/national/menuage.htm

**Age-adjusted prevalence of visual impairment per 100 adults with diabetes (2007)**
	African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
Men	14.7	16.9	0.9
Women	20.6	19.3	1.1
Total	17.8	18.1	1.0

Source: CDC 2009. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/visual/fig5.htm

**Rate of initiation of treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes per 100,000 diabetic population (2006)**
	African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
Men and Women	362.8	164.4	2.2
Men	417.3	196.8	2.1
Women	322.3	134.2	2.4

Source: CDC 2006. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/index.htm

**Age-adjusted rate of hospitalization per 1,000 diabetic population, 2005**
African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
71.1	36.3	2.0

Source: CDC 2009. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/dmfirst/fig6.htm

**Age-adjusted rate for lower extremity amputation per 1,000 diabetic population, 2005**
African Americans	White	African Americans/ White Ratio
5.7	2.5	2.3

Source: CDC 2009. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/lea/fig6.htm

At a glance – Death Rate:

**Age-Adjusted Diabetes Death Rates per 100,000 (2006)**
	African Americans	Non-Hispanic White	African Americans/Non- Hispanic White Ratio
Male	50.6	24.7	2.0
Female	42.4	17.0	2.5
Total	45.9	20.4	2.3

Source: CDC, 2009. National Vital Statistic Report. Vol. 57, Num 14 Table 17.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_14.pdf[PDF | 1.7MB]

At a Glance – Risk Factors:

There are several risk factors related to diabeties. Some of these risk factors are:

Obesity and Overweight - See Obesity and African Americans

Hypertension - See Heart Disease and African Americans

High Cholesterol - See Heart Disease and African Americans

Cigarette Smoking - See Heart Disease and African Americans

At a Glance – Treatment:

**Age-adjusted percentage of persons 40 years of age and over with diabetes who had their cholesterol checked, 2005.**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
96.9	97.1	1.0

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 2_1_3.1
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/2_diabetes/T2_1_3-1.htm

**Age-adjusted percentage of persons 40 years of age and over with diabetes who had received an influenza immunization, 2005.**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
39.7	60.8	0.7

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 2_1_6.2b.
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/2_diabetes/T2_1_6-2b.htm

**Age-adjusted percentage of persons 40 years of age and over with diabetes who had a foot examination, 2005.**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
75.5	72.2	1.0

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 2_1_5.2b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/2_diabetes/T2_1_5-2b.htm

**Age-adjusted percentage of persons 40 years of age and over with diabetes who had a retinal eye examination, 2005**
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
54.8	62.4	0.9

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 2_1_4.2b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/2_diabetes/T2_1_4-2b.htm

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Content Last Modified: 12/2/2009 3:01:00 PM