MILLIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AT INCREASED RISK FOR -1)

(Philadelphia—July 19)  About 40 percent of adults ages 40 to 74 – or 41 million people -- have 
pre-diabetes, a condition that raises a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. 
African Americans are twice as likely as whites of similar age to develop diabetes.  To help reduce this
potential epidemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) National Diabetes Education
Program (NDEP) launched a public awareness campaign today called “More Than 50 Ways to Prevent
Diabetes” with Philadelphia’s Fun, Fit & Free! healthy lifestyle program.  The campaign delivers the
message that African Americans can prevent type 2 diabetes. The event took place at the North Philadelphia
Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where the city’s model healthy lifestyle program is based.  
 
“More than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes” is part of NDEP’s Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2
Diabetes campaign, which targets groups at high risk for diabetes.  The “More than 50 Ways” campaign uses
humorous rhymes to encourage lifestyle change, such as “Less on your plate, Nate” and “Dance it away,
Faye.”  These messages are offered on motivational tip sheets, radio and print public service advertisements,
and posters.  More than 200 public and private partners will help to distribute the materials throughout the
country.
 
“We are asking African Americans to find out if they are at risk for type 2 diabetes, and we’re showing them
how to take action to prevent it,” said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.  “The key is regular physical
activity and modest weight loss—as little as 5 to 7 percent of your body weight.  I want to encourage people
to take this message of good health to their families and their communities, so we can put an end to the
diabetes epidemic.” 
 
Philadelphia native Frenchy Risco is a member of NDEP’s “Small Steps. Big Rewards. Team to Prevent type
2 Diabetes.”  This team was assembled by NDEP to put a human face on the populations that are at high risk
for the disease. Each member is actively working in his or her community to prevent diabetes.   Mr. Risco
recently graduated from the Fun, Fit & Free! cooking class and is one of the city’s lay healthy cooking chefs. 
 
Risco’s healthy life choices came as a result of taking a six-week course offered by the Fun, Fit & Free!
program.  Created by the City of Philadelphia as a public-private partnership, the program helps city residents
lose weight through free cooking classes, walking tours, and healthy food menus. The program has been
lauded by Secretary Thompson as a “fun and challenging” way for city residents to learn to incorporate
physical activity into their daily routines and to make wise food choices. 

MILLIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AT INCREASED RISK FOR -2)

“Diabetes is ravaging our community. We must spread the word about the many ways we can beat this
devastating disease,” said Risco. “I adopted my healthy lifestyle and committed myself to informing my
brothers and sisters about the rewards it brings—freedom from blindness, from amputation, from daily
injections of insulin.  My best friend had his leg amputated as a result of diabetes.  I can’t give him a new 
leg, but I can help inform others about taking small steps now to avoid that fate in the future.”
 
Dr. James R. Gavin, III, Chair of NDEP and President of Morehouse School of Medicine, says the partnership
of community-based healthy living programs and a national public awareness campaign is a prescription for
making real inroads to stem the diabetes epidemic in the African American community.  
 
“Every minute of every day, another American develops type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Gavin at the news
conference announcing the outreach effort. “Nearly three million African Americans have been diagnosed
with diabetes and millions more are likely to develop the disease in the coming years, unless we get serious
about prevention today.” 
 
“This is a job all of us must take part in. African Americans do not have to suffer from diabetes and its
complications.  Knowing how to eat healthy and increasing their physical activity are keys to longer, 
healthier lives. We must get the word out that type 2 diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful.” 
 
HHS’ NDEP is a federally funded program, co-sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, and is a leading source for information about diabetes care and
prevention.  NDEP has more than 200 partner organizations that form a network to reach the health care
community and those affected by diabetes at the federal, state, and local levels.
 
For more information about the campaign and free materials, including tip sheets and the GAMEPLAN for
Preventing type 2 Diabetes – tools to help people lose weight, get active, and track their progress – visit the
NDEP website at www.ndep.nih.gov or call 1-800-438-5383.

Ten Ways to Shape Up Your Family Reunion to Prevent Type 2 Diabet

Family reunions offer a chance to bond with relatives, learn about your
heritage, share recipes, and celebrate with your whole family. When
learning about your heritage, it is also important to find out if type 2
diabetes runs in your family. Having a family history of type 2
diabetes increases your risk for developing the disease. Take the first
step today toward lowering your risk for type 2 diabetes and
improving your health and the health of future generations. Find out if
you have a family history of the disease. 
 
Diabetes affects the lives of millions of African Americans in the
United States. But there’s hope for you and your family. Research shows that losing a small
amount of weight – 5 to 7 percent of your current weight or 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound
person – can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by more than half. The key step to preventing or
delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes is to lose a small amount of weight by making healthy food
choices and being physically active 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Beginning with your next
reunion and afterwards, follow these 10 tips from the National Diabetes Education Program
(NDEP) to shape up your family, lose weight, and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes: 
 
Choose activities your entire family will enjoy. 
1.  Dance it away! A dance contest is a fun way to show the younger people in your family the
dances you used to do when you were their age – and they can show you some of their moves
as well! Or turn up the music and do the Electric Slide, the Cha Cha Slide, and other favorite
group dances.   
2.  Be physically active with younger relatives. Play with younger children, nieces, nephews,
and cousins. Go swimming, toss a softball, or do jumping jacks. 
3.  Get up, get out, get moving! If your family reunion is held in a park, go for a bike ride, a
brisk walk on a nature trail, or any other activity that helps get your heart rate up.  
4.  Focus on fun! Activities such as scavenger hunts, potato sack races, and double-dutch
contests are easy ways to have fun and be physically active.  
5.  Make it a family affair. Involve everyone in a friendly game of basketball, flag football,
volleyball, or tag.  
 
Have a plan for what, when, and how much you will eat.
6.  For starters, try a salad with a twist. Prepare a rainbow fruit salad with a large peeled and
diced mango; 1 peeled and sliced kiwi; 2 cups blueberries, halved strawberries, and seedless
grapes; 2 nectarines; and 2 sliced bananas. Top with a small amount of honey-orange
dressing made with ? cup unsweetened orange juice, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon
ground ginger, 11/2 tablespoon honey, and a dash of nutmeg. Number of servings: 12    
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Stay Young at Heart Recipe Collection
7.  Why fry when you can bake, broil, or grill? Instead of fried chicken, fire up the grill and
remove the skin and fat from chicken breasts, drumsticks, or thighs and lightly coat them
with barbeque sauce. Instead of fried catfish, try baked fish seasoned with herbs, spices, or
lemon juice. 

8.  Try low-fat versions of your favorite side dishes. Prepare homemade macaroni and cheese
with nonfat and low-fat milk and cheese. Smother greens with smoked turkey or low-sodium
chicken broth instead of fatback.   
9.  Re-think your drink. Whenever possible drink water – the healthy, no-calorie beverage.
Instead of a regular 20-ounce soda or sweetened fruit drink, choose sugar-free soda.  
10. Reach for a healthy treat. Instead of cobblers, cakes, or pies for dessert, eat a piece of fresh
summer fruit such as peaches, nectarines, or apricots. Also, try old-fashioned bread pudding
prepared with 11/2 cup skim milk, 10 slices whole-wheat bread, 3 egg whites, 1/2 teaspoon
cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a little brown sugar. To
prepare bread pudding, preheat oven to 350 °F. Lightly coat 8”x 8” inch baking dish with
vegetable oil spray. Lay slices of bread in baking dish in two rows, overlapping like shingles.
In medium bowl, beat together egg whites, milk, brown sugar, and vanilla. Pour egg mixture
over bread. In small bowl, stir together cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove and sprinkle over bread
pudding. Bake pudding for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 °F, until it has browned on top and is firm
to touch. For a topping, simmer apple-raisin sauce prepared with 11/4 cup apple juice, 1/2 cup
raisins, 1/2 cup apple butter, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 2
tablespoons molasses in a medium saucepan for five minutes. Number of servings: 9  
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Keep the Beat: Heart Healthy Recipes    
 
To order your free copy of the More than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes tip sheet and other free
resources to help African American families lower their risk for type 2 diabetes, contact the
National Diabetes Education Program at 1-888-693-NDEP (6337) or visit
www.YourDiabetesInfo.org. You can also check out the National Kidney Disease Education
Program’s Make Health a Family Reunion Affair guide by visiting www.nkdep.nih.gov or
calling 1-866-454-3639.

NIH Encourages African Americans to Discuss Kidney Disease at Fam

As African Americans across the country prepare for family reunions this summer, NIH is encouraging them to bring 揾ealth to the table?by alerting family members about their risks for kidney disease.

The National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) is launching an initiative this week to encourage African Americans who are attending reunions to reach out to relatives who have leading risk factors for kidney disease — diabetes or high blood pressure.

揗any people know family members who have diabetes or high blood pressure. Our goal is to make them aware of their risk for kidney disease and to encourage them to get tested and take steps to protect their kidneys,?says Dr. Thomas Hostetter, director of NKDEP.

African Americans are four times more likely than whites to develop kidney failure. Furthermore, diabetes and high blood pressure account for 70 percent of kidney failure in African Americans. Because diabetes and high blood pressure run in families, reunions offer good opportunities to discuss kidney disease.

揔idney disease has no early warning signs,?said Dr. Hostetter. 揘ot knowing the risks can have disastrous consequences. But there is good news. Once diagnosed, kidney disease can be treated and kidney failure can be prevented or delayed.?

To help families talk about kidney disease, NKDEP has created a free, online Kidney Connection Toolkit containing everything needed to share important kidney health information at reunions, including simple guides for conducting a 15-minute Make the Kidney Connection health discussion, identifying and talking with family members at risk, and distributing kidney disease prevention information to attendees.

Organizations partnering with NKDEP on the initiative are the National Urban League, the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks, the National Medical Association, and the COSHAR Foundation. Partners are spreading the word and the toolkit throughout the summer.

For more information and to download the NKDEP toolkit, visit www.nkdep.nih.gov/familyreunion.

The National Kidney Disease Education Program is an initiative of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — is comprised of 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit

NIH Encourages African Americans to Make Health A 揊amily Reunion?

As African-American families across the country plan their reunions this summer, the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP), an initiative of the National Institutes of Health, is encouraging them to talk about several health issues that disproportionately affect African Americans — diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.

The NKDEP urges African Americans attending reunions to reach out to relatives who have diabetes and/or high blood pressure — the leading risk factors for kidney disease. Diabetes and high blood pressure account for 70 percent of kidney failure. African Americans are nearly four times more likely than Caucasians to develop kidney failure.

揇iabetes and high blood pressure are all too common in African-American families,?said Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., acting director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). 揟he NKDEP recognizes reunions as an opportunity for families to discuss how these conditions can cause kidney disease and why it is so important to get tested.?/p>

To help families talk about kidney disease, the NKDEP has created a free Kidney Connection Guide containing fact sheets about diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. The guide outlines three approaches to promote discussion among family members: presenting a 15-minute Make The Kidney Connection health overview, conducting one-on-one discussions with family members at risk, and distributing kidney disease information to attendees. In addition, the guide encourages families to use the U.S. Surgeon General抯 online tool, called 揗y Family Health Portrait,?to trace illnesses suffered by parents, grandparents, and other relatives.

揔nowing your family history can save your life. It抯 important to take advantage of every opportunity to discuss these important medical issues with your loved ones,?says U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H.

The goal of the NKDEP is to make the connection between kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, and to encourage those at high risk to get tested.

揗any people have family members with diabetes or high blood pressure, or both. That抯 why it is so important for them to talk to their families about these risk factors for kidney disease, and help them understand there are steps they can take to protect their kidneys,?said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NIDDK's Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases.

To promote its family reunion initiative, the NKDEP is working with a number of organizations, including the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks, the National Medical Association, and the COSHAR Foundation, which is raising awareness through Kidney Sunday events at African-American churches nationwide. For more information and to download a free copy of the NKDEP Kidney Connection Guide, visit

African Americans and Kidney Disease Fact Sheet

Kidney Disease in African Americans

• African Americans are nearly four times more likely than Caucasians to develop kidney failure,¹ which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.

• An NKDEP survey of African Americans found that only eight percent named kidney disease as a consequence of high blood pressure, and only 17 percent named kidney disease as a consequence of diabetes. Of those surveyed who had high blood pressure and diabetes, only 10 percent and 29 percent, respectively, identified kidney disease as a negative consequence of not treating their conditions.²

• African Americans make up about 12 percent of the population but account for 32 percent of people with kidney failure.¹

• Among new patients whose kidney failure was caused by high blood pressure, more than half (51.2 percent) are African-American.¹

• Among new patients whose kidney failure was caused by diabetes, almost one third (31.3 percent) are African-American.¹

• African-American men ages 20 to 29 are 10 times more likely to develop kidney failure due to high blood pressure than Caucasian men in the same age group. African-American men ages 30 to 39 are about 14 times more likely to develop kidney failure due to high blood pressure than Caucasian men in the same age group.¹


• 
  

  Kidney Disease in the United States

  
  
  
  
  • Approximately 20 million Americans have kidney disease.³
  
  
  
  
  • Early kidney disease has no symptoms. If left undetected, it can progress to kidney failure with little or no warning.
  
  
  
  
  • By the end of 2003, more than 128,000 people were living with a kidney transplant, and almost 325,000 were on dialysis – a number that has nearly tripled since 1988.¹
  
  
  
  
  • Public and private spending to treat patients with kidney failure in the United States in 2003 was $27.3 billion,¹ up from around $22 billion in 2001.
  
  
  
  
  • The most common causes of kidney failure are diabetes and high blood pressure, together accounting for about 70 percent of new cases.¹
  
  
  
  
  • By 2030, more than 2 million people will be receiving treatment for kidney failure.⁴
  
  
  
  
  • Kidney disease can be effectively treated if detected early. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors^5,6,7,8 or ARBs^9,10 (angiotensin receptor blockers) can prevent or slow progression of kidney disease to kidney failure

Diabetes & High -Have you talked to a doctor

If you have diabetes or high blood kidneys pressure, ask about your kidneys at your next doctor’s appointment.
Both of these conditions can damage your kidneys and lead to kidney disease.
Kidney disease from diabetes or high blood pressure does not go away.  Instead, it gets worse over time.  If not treated, kidney disease
You have two kidneys located near the can lead to kidney failure, where center of your back.  Their job is to filter
your only options are dialysis or a your blood.  Small blood vessels in your
kidney transplant.