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Promoting Health and Joy: Managing Diabetes in African American Families During the Holidays

The holiday season is a time of joyful family get-togethers and delicious food that everyone looks forward to. However, for our people, this festive period can also present health challenges that we all need to be aware of. Recent data, from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that African Americans face a burden of health issues compared to other racial groups. While these challenges are not exclusive to the holiday season they can be more prominent during this time. This blog post aims to shed light on some health challenges that affect our families during the holidays and offers tips on how to prevent them.

The Impact of Diabetes on African-American Communities

Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of Americans but has a higher prevalence among African Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association, 13.4% of non-Hispanic black individuals over the age of 20 have been diagnosed with diabetes compared to 7.5% for non-Hispanic whites in 2023. This disparity becomes more apparent when considering age groups. African Americans are twice as likely as their white counterparts to have diabetes.

One possible reason behind this inequality could be limited access to quality healthcare and educational resources in communities.

Research has demonstrated that there are disparities in healthcare access and health outcomes between African Americans and other demographic groups. This discrepancy can lead to poorly managed diabetes, which may result in complications and even loss of life.

Preventing Health Challenges During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time when grandma, auntie, uncs, cousins and you all know the rest tend to indulge often leading to overeating, excessive alcohol consumption, and neglecting physical activity. For loved ones with health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, this can be particularly detrimental. Here are some recommendations for your people and mine to maintain their well-being during the holidays.

1. Opt out of traditional food choices (ribs, ham, chitterlings, sweet potato cobblers, pound cakes...soul food in general) that are high in sugar, fat, and sodium content consider healthier alternatives like roasted vegetables whole grain breads, and lean proteins. It's also essential to keep an eye on portion sizes and avoid piling up plates and going for seconds, thirds, etc.

2. Stay physically active: While it may be tempting to spend most of the time relaxing until you fall asleep on Grandma's comfy sofa after a meal, strive to remain physically active during the holiday season. Take a walk after dinner, engage in a tag football game or basketball, run with your younger kinfolk, or explore other activities that motivate you to move like dancing in the soul train line, "Get up now!"

3. Regularly monitor blood sugar levels: If you have diabetes or if you know someone who does it's crucial to monitor blood sugar levels throughout the holiday period which means you or a loved one will need to pull out the monitor and check your "sugar" regardless of who is around. Your "business" becomes everybody's business if the paramedics are called.

Stick to your routine as much as possible and remember to take any necessary medications.

4. Stay connected with loved ones: The holidays can be a time for individuals but it's crucial to stay connected with family and friends. If you're feeling overwhelmed or lonely reach out. Talk to someone who cares.

5. Take measures against the flu: Influenza tends to be more prevalent during the winter months along with C-19 and everything else! Stay home when you feel under the weather. Visit a doctor, wear a mask in close quarters whether vaccinated or not, and practice good hygiene such as hand-washing to reduce the risk of getting sick. 

6. Safely prepare meals: Do not leave food out for long periods of time. Research how much time certain foods are good to leave out before refrigerating. In addition, avoid cross-contamination by spreading raw meat juices around.  All utensils, cutting boards, countertops, knobs, and handles must be properly disinfected.

To sum up, while the holiday season brings joy and warmth to so many of our people, be mindful of health challenges. You seriously do not want to see your loved ones in the hospital with tubes up their noses or prematurely in a casket, or even yourself snapping selfies in a medical gown this time of year! 

By taking steps towards prevention and prioritizing safety during this season we can all enjoy meaningful moments with our loved ones.

May God bless you and yours!

Nicholl McGuire is an inspirational speaker, author, and owner of this blog. Like, comment and share.

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African American Planet: Relationships, Education, Products & Lifestyle by Nicholl McGuire is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at africanamericanplanet.blogspot.com.

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