Celebrating Health of Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities During Diabetes Awareness Month

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.

This month is focused on raising awareness about the importance of improving our health to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.  African Americans are disproportionately affected by the disease. Statistically, 12.1% of African Americans have the disease, as compared to the non-Hispanic White population at 7.4%. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes is a long-lasting health condition that affects the body's ability to turn food into energy. Over time, diabetes causes serious health problems for many sufferers, which can include heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. However, type 2 diabetes can be managed and sometimes eliminated by losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active. Taking prescribed medications can also help manage these symptoms and being consistent with your medical appointments.

Let's focus on how we can encourage racial and ethnic minority communities to identify the signs and symptoms of poor health and get the help the community needs. 

Here are a few steps to consider: 

Health education

To improve health care outcomes, physicians and mental health counselors must spend more time with their clients. The interaction with the client must be enthusiastic, motivated, and responsive to their needs. Additionally, fostering this relationship can improve self-efficacy in clients. Self-efficacy is defined as one's belief in one's ability to successfully accomplish certain tasks. One's sense of self-efficacy plays a major role in how one approaches goals, tasks, and challenges regarding one's health. 

Early detection

Early detection and intervention are recognizing the warning signs and acting before it gets worse. When you realize the early signs and symptoms, it may be easier to get help from a medical professional before it becomes worse. Studies have shown that proper care and treatment can aid in someone consistently making healthier lifestyle choices.

Physical Health = Mental Health 

If your mental health is good, you have better outcomes to be physically healthy.  Studies show that having a positive outlook on life can reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes and happiness helps reduce levels of inflammation in the body.  Additionally, when mental health starts declining, physical health can follow. Healthy mental health can go a long way toward helping someone live a healthier, enjoyable life. 

About Vaughn Greene Funeral Services: For more than 25 years, Vaughn Greene Funeral Services has been providing a ministry of care to Baltimore’s African American community. As a leading local, minority- and family-owned provider, we promise to provide our highest level of service and respect to families who entrust us to honor their loved ones. For more information about our funeral, cremation, memorial, repast, and grief counseling services, please call us at 410.655.0015 or visit us online at https://vaughncgreene.com/.

Leslie Holley, MA, LCPC, LPC, NCC is the owner of Healing-Circle, LLC. She is a Nationally Certified Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and an experienced presenter on mental health topics. We are honored to have Leslie help support our families needing grief support or hope and healing.

Sources:

• https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/diabetes-and-african-americans
• https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/whats-the-connection-between-physical-health-and-mental-health/
• https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2021/06/the-importance-of-early-intervention-for-people-facing-mental-health-challenges/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5242136/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/research-news/10210/
• https://abcnews.go.com/Health/hidden-pandemic-grief-african-american-community/story?id=75613917
• https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/edu-training/nmhm/
• https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/health/reports/black-womens-maternal-health.html
• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/realestate/what-is-redlining.html
• https://naacp.org/resources/criminal-justice-fact-sheet