Diabetic Complications

African Americans experience higher rates of a least four serious complications of diabetes: blindness, kidney disease, amputations and heart disease.

Blindness

African Americans are twice as likely to suffer from diabetes related blindness. Diabetics can develop a condition called diabetic retinopathy, a disease affecting the blood vessels of the eye, which can lead to impaired vision and blindness. Click this link to test your vision.

Kidney Disease

Diabetes is the leading cause of end stage kidney disease in African Americans, accounting for about 30% of the new cases each year. Ten to 21% of all people with diabetes develop kidney disease.

Amputations

Diabetes is the most frequent cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. Each year, 82,000 people lose their foot or leg to diabetes. Among people with diabetes, African Americans are 1.5 to 2.5 times more likely to suffer from lower limb amputations than whites.

Heart Disease

Heart disease strikes people with diabetes more than twice as often as it strikes people without diabetes. People with diabetes are five times more likely to suffer strokes, and once having had a stroke, are two to four times as likely to have a recurrence.

Routine-Checkups

Diabetes has had a devastating effect on the African American community; it is the fifth leading cause of death and the second leading cause of end stage kidney disease in African Americans. It is very important to visit your physician on a regular basis and report any new concern or symptom to your doctor immediately. Many complications can be avoided with proper medical care.