Health disparities associated with Type 2 Diabetes in African Americans
Start Date
April 2026
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
Diabetes, an avoidable and incurable disease, affected over 40 million Americans (i.e., 12% of the population) in 2023. An additional estimated 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed every year (American Diabetes Association, n.d.). Over 90% of those diagnosed have type 2 diabetes (T2D) (International Diabetes Federation, 2025), amounting to approximately 38 million Americans (American Diabetes Association, n.d.). African Americans have a higher prevalence of (12.7% vs. 11%) and mortality rate from (50% higher) T2D compared with non-Hispanic Whites(Hu et al., 2022), which significantly alters the affected individual's life, expenses, and may impact future generations. This presentation will provide an overview of T2D, including information about African Americans’ experience with T2D, the health disparities they face, and the social determinants of health (SDOH) that contribute to these disparities. Reversible SDOH contribute to the development of T2D in the African American community. Solutions for these SDOH will be presented. Addressing the disproportionate burden of T2D in the African American community requires comprehensive interventions targeting the SDOH to prevent the disease and reduce related costs, comorbidities, and mortality.
Health disparities associated with Type 2 Diabetes in African Americans
2nd floor - Library
Diabetes, an avoidable and incurable disease, affected over 40 million Americans (i.e., 12% of the population) in 2023. An additional estimated 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed every year (American Diabetes Association, n.d.). Over 90% of those diagnosed have type 2 diabetes (T2D) (International Diabetes Federation, 2025), amounting to approximately 38 million Americans (American Diabetes Association, n.d.). African Americans have a higher prevalence of (12.7% vs. 11%) and mortality rate from (50% higher) T2D compared with non-Hispanic Whites(Hu et al., 2022), which significantly alters the affected individual's life, expenses, and may impact future generations. This presentation will provide an overview of T2D, including information about African Americans’ experience with T2D, the health disparities they face, and the social determinants of health (SDOH) that contribute to these disparities. Reversible SDOH contribute to the development of T2D in the African American community. Solutions for these SDOH will be presented. Addressing the disproportionate burden of T2D in the African American community requires comprehensive interventions targeting the SDOH to prevent the disease and reduce related costs, comorbidities, and mortality.
