American Diabetes Association launches campaign to heighten Blacks' awareness of disease

Jet, March 4, 1996

The American Diabetes Association recently launched a new education program aimed at increasing the awareness of the nearly epidemic rate of the disease among Blacks, who are almost twice as likely to have diabetes than the general population. The campaign launch comes on the eve of March which is National Diabetes Month. During this time the public is urged to focus its attention on the disease and early detection of diabetes.

"Our research shows that African Americans are acutely aware that diabetes is a serious disease and that people of color are at a greater risk for developing it," said Dr. James R. Gavin II, chair of the association's African-American Program. "However, even with this knowledge, 50 percent of African Americans in our survey don't believe that they themselves are at risk. Worse, our research shows that African Americans are often fatalistic about diabetes, believing there is nothing they can do to avoid it."

The American Diabetes Association created the African-American Program in response to the continuing rise in the number of Blacks who are developing the disease, a rate that has tripled since the 1960s. Nearly 3 million Blacks have diabetes, and it is the fourth-leading cause of death by a disease. Diabetes is also the leading cause of adult-age blindness, kidney failure and amputation - complications which affect Blacks more severely than the general population.

"Through grassroots efforts, public service advertising and a church-based initiative called Diabetes Sunday", program will focus national attention on the soaring rate of diabetes among African Americans and help to reverse this alarming trend," said Gavin. "We want African Americans to take charge of their health and understand that with proper treatment and care, diabetes can be controlled, and complications, such as blindness, amputations and kidney failure, can be prevented."

The launch of the campaign brought together leaders of the Black community, health agencies and corporations who will participate in the program, including such groups as National Black Catholic Congress, National Black Police Association, National Eye Institute and the Office of Minority Health.

In addition, actress Phylicia Rashad and gospel recording artists The Clark Sisters, whose mother died of diabetes in 1994, have participated in a series of print and broadcast public service announcements supporting the program.