September 19, 1998 Today Dr. David Satcher, U.S. Surgeon General, launched a new awareness campaign encouraging the 2.2 million African Americans with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. The Control Your Diabetes. For Life. campaign, developed by the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), encourages family members and friends to support those who have the disease. Dr. Gary Dennis, president of the National Medical Association, was also present to give his organization's support to the campaign.
"Diabetes is an epidemic within the African American community. The number of African Americans diagnosed with diabetes has tripled over the past 30 years," said Dr. Satcher. "The National Diabetes Education Program's campaign is a key strategy of the President's Initiative on Race, which is designed to improve the health status of America's racial and ethnic populations, including African Americans."
Dr. Satcher called on all African Americans with diabetes to work with their health care providers to manage their disease. "Research shows that aggressive treatment with diet, regular physical activity, and diabetes medicines can prevent or delay much of the illness and death from diabetes," he said.
"African Americans experience higher and more devastating rates of diabetes complications including eye disease, kidney failure, amputations, and premature deaths than Caucasians. The death rates for people with diabetes are 27 percent higher for blacks compared with whites," said Dr. Marcus Wilson, National Medical Director of the Mutual of Omaha Company. "It is crucial that we treat this disease as an epidemic and inform everyone about the long-term benefits of controlling diabetes."
Dr. Dennis also challenged African Americans with diabetes to control their disease. "Keep your blood sugar under control by sticking with your treatment program. Watch what you eat, make time for regular physical activity, and take diabetes medicines as prescribed. Also, keep track of your blood sugar numbers," he said. He added, "I've seen first hand how controlling blood sugar levels can make a big difference. When people with diabetes control their disease they feel better, they have more energy, and ultimately, they enjoy a better quality of life."
TV, radio and print public service announcements for the Control Your Diabetes. For Life. campaign emphasize that controlling diabetes makes a huge difference. Culturally appropriate campaign materials were developed with guidance from the NDEP's African American Committee, representing African American national and community based organizations and media organizations who are NDEP partners.
Mary Clark, M.Ed., who chairs the NDEP's African American Committee, said NDEP partners will lead the effort to promote the diabetes message through their organizations within the African American community and the media. "Our goal is to raise awareness about the seriousness of the disease. We are committed to improving the treatment and quality of life for all African Americans with diabetes," she said. Sharman Word Dennis, M.Ed., President, Auxiliary to the National Medical Association added "We need to focus on healthy eating and increasing physical activity for African Americans of all ages, especially our young people, because diabetes is affecting our population at an earlier age."
More diabetes information is available for people with diabetes and healthcare providers by calling 1-800-438-5383 or visiting the NDEP web sites at http://ndep.nih.gov, or http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes.
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