| There is today a growing concern about attack of | | | | chains seem to target ethnic groups like African |
| diabetes on African Americans. Data from the | | | | Americans. Foods served by fast food |
| National Diabetes Education Program, for example, | | | | restaurants are often high in fats and |
| indicate that diabetes is hitting African Americans | | | | carbohydrates, but low in nutrients that really |
| in epidemic proportions. The African Americans | | | | matter. An example is French fries, which lead |
| constitute one of biggest ethnic groups in the US | | | | among food items that are not recommended for |
| that heavily suffers from Type 2 diabetes. | | | | diabetics. Unfortunately, French fries have become |
| Furthermore, the affliction is the leading cause of | | | | almost synonymous to fast food restaurants. |
| disability and mortality among African Americans | | | | French fries are carbohydrates-rich and also high |
| in the country. | | | | in fat, but wanting in protein. Low-income class |
| A number of factors that cause Type 2 diabetes | | | | households patronize these fast food restaurants |
| has been identified. Genetic factors, obesity, high | | | | because they offer relatively inexpensive choices |
| blood pressure, diabetes during pregnancy and | | | | of menu. They respond to the needs of families |
| high cholesterol are some of the factors that are | | | | with limited budget. |
| believed to cause some 95 percent of all cases of | | | | The attack of Type 2 diabetes on African |
| Type 2 diabetes. Although unsupported by | | | | Americans can be foiled in various ways. If you |
| scientific data, the genetic make up of African | | | | belong to high-risk groups, these are the |
| Americans is suspected to provide links to their | | | | suggestions: One, find out from the Glycemic |
| vulnerability to the disease. Estimates place the | | | | Index the list of foods that should be avoided by |
| number of diabetic African Americans at 3.2 | | | | diabetics; and shun them. Two, try to get |
| million, 33 percent of them believed undiagnosed. | | | | yourself involved in a serious exercise routine. If |
| Within the African American communities, data | | | | you are obese, make getting rid of extra |
| indicate that chances of giving in to complications | | | | poundage one of your exercise key goals. Three, |
| brought about by diabetes are higher among poor | | | | avail yourself of regular screening examinations |
| African Americans than other ethnic blocs. This | | | | for diabetes. Try to get in touch with your local |
| raises the possibility that lack of access to health | | | | health offices, whose services are free, if you |
| care services and helpful information with respect | | | | have no access to other providers of health care |
| to the disease might be the chief reason why | | | | services. These tests are sometimes crucial to |
| attack of diabetes at least on a certain segment | | | | providing timely medication that may yet prove |
| of the African American population is on the rise. | | | | effective for otherwise hopeless cases. |
| The possibility of contracting the disease is | | | | Suggestions addressed directly to African |
| relatively lower for richer African Americans and | | | | Americans include resisting fast food restaurants. |
| equal to that of other ethnic groups. | | | | Unhealthy foods are not only suspected of giving |
| Aside from lack of access to health care services, | | | | rise to diabetes, they also lead to heart diseases |
| inadequate information on diabetes and lack of | | | | and even cancer. They must realize the urgent |
| access to emergency medical attention and | | | | nature of the problem. Type 2 diabetes has |
| lifesaving drugs, most people who belong to poor | | | | marked African Americans as relatively easy |
| communities are exposed to foods that may lack | | | | prey. |
| nutritional value. The mushrooming of fast food | | | | |