Gestational diabetes is when blood glucose levels measure high above normal during pregnancy.

Several studies have indicated that the prevalence of gestational diabetes in African American women may be 50% to 80% more frequent than in Caucasian women.

Some researchers suggest that African Americans inherited a "thrifty gene" from their African ancestors. The thrifty gene may make the person more vulnerable to develop type II diabetes.

African Americans suffer with chronic disease more often than any of the other cultures. (That includes diabetes, renal disease, and high blood pressure.)

Being overweight is a major risk factor for type II diabetes.

From 1988 to 1994, African American adolescents and adults have higher rates of obesity than Caucasians in the U.S., as indicated in the following chart.

The location of the excess weight is also a risk factor for type II diabetes. Compared to excess weight carried below the waist, excess weight carried above the waist is a stronger risk factor. African Americans are more at risk of diabetes for they have a greater tendency to develop upper-body obesity.

With the same levels of obesity, age, and socioeconomic status, African Americans still have higher rates of diabetes than Caucasians. Hence, researchers do not believe that obesity alone accounts for the higher prevalence of diabetes for African Americans.

In addition to obesity, researchers suggest that a lack of exercise leads to the high rates of diabetes in African Americans.

African Americans currently have the lowest kidney transplant rate of all the high risk minority groups, with only 50.4% of African American women, and 53.9% of African American men referred for transplants.

African Americans are in desperate need of organs. This is Public Health Crisis. They comprise 26% of individuals on the national transplant waiting list. 35% are waiting for kidney transplants. Overall, African Americans represent only 13% of organ donors. 

The low rates of organ transplantation in African Americans are generally due to the lack of trust, education, and organ donation.  

In 2007, the organ transplant rates for African Americans have increased.  A collaboration campaign with Onelegacy, (Organ Procurement Network), California DMV and Donate Life California was instrumental in reaching up to 35% more Africans to donate organs and tissues through California Department of Motor Vehicle,  online sign ups.

African Americans have the highest incidence of hypertension.

In general, African Americans are 4 times more likely to develop kidney disease. African Americans with diabetes are four times more often to experience end-stage renal disease (ESRD) than diabetic Caucasians.

In 1995, there were 27,258 new cases of ESRD attributed to diabetes in African Americans.

From 1992 to 1996, diabetes was the leading cause of kidney failure and accounted for 43% of the new cases of ESRD found in African Americans.

Hypertension is the second leading cause of ESRD. Also, it accounts for 42% of cases.

Information on this page is found on the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse website. For more information, go to Diabetes in African Americans