Diabetes Made Simple: A Quick Guide

I was around 12 years old when I first heard the word diabetes. A close family member was bedridden with it, and suddenly the word was everywhere—whispered in worried tones by adults who seemed to understand something I didn’t.

Everyone had a different explanation. “Don’t eat sugar; sugar causes it,” some warned. Others insisted, “No, it’s caused by fats in the body.” Then some said it ran in families, that it was hereditary. The conflicting information only deepened my confusion. As the years passed, I kept hearing “Type 1” and “Type 2,” and my curiosity grew. What did these types mean? What was the real difference?

Recently, the International Diabetes Federation estimated that over 250 million people were not aware they had diabetes. Duke Health reported in 2022 that of the 30 million people with Type 2 diabetes, about one quarter of them didn’t know they had it.

For Black Americans, the stakes are even higher. According to the Office of Minority Health in 2024, Black adults are 24% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than adults of other races, experience more complications, and die from it at a rate that is 40% higher when compared to other races. These disparities stem from a complex web of factors, such as limited access to quality healthcare, food deserts that make healthy eating difficult, high rates of poverty and stress, and systemic inequities that have persisted for generations.

Dangerous myths persist in our communities:

“No one has it in my family, so I can’t have it.”
“I can’t have diabetes because I’m not overweight.”
“I don’t eat sugar, so I can’t have it.”

These misconceptions, fueled by ignorance, have real consequences. It’s time to answer these questions and many more buzzing in your head.

The Basics in Plain Talk

Diabetes is a condition that affects how the body uses sugar (also known as glucose). This glucose is the primary energy source for the body. Every cell in the body needs glucose to function properly, but glucose can only enter those cells with the help of a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.

Think of glucose as the fuel for your body’s engine—and insulin as the key that unlocks the cells so that fuel can be used. When insulin isn’t made (as in Type 1 diabetes) or doesn’t work properly (as in Type 2 diabetes), glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of being used for energy.

Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels, nerves, and organs—just as an engine running without enough oil can overheat and wear out faster. Insulin helps “lubricate” the process by keeping blood sugar in balance, preventing long-term damage, and supporting the body’s overall health.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes has two types: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes

For Type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce insulin. It is like not having engine oil in your car at all. Without insulin, which helps sugar enter our cells, the unused sugar will build up in our blood. The result is Type 1 diabetes, which usually starts in childhood or young adulthood.

Type 2 Diabetes

In Type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it effectively. Think of this as having low engine oil in your car. Over time, the engine struggles to function well. That’s how our body struggles to regulate sugar levels.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, both types of diabetes can lead to high blood sugar. Still, the reasons behind it—and the best ways to manage it—are different, with Type 2 diabetes making up 90% to 95% of the 37.3 million people with diabetes in the US, which is 11% of the total US population.

What’s Happening in Your Body

When you eat, the body breaks down food into glucose. Normally, insulin acts like the oil our engine needs to run well, and glucose helps keep our bodies healthy.

In Type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing cells are destroyed, allowing the immune system to attack and destroy the cells that produce insulin. Just like a car engine, the body is now exposed to knocking. The solution is taking insulin daily as a substitute for what your body is supposed to produce.

In Type 2, the engine oil is present, but it is either insufficient or too old, which prevents the car from achieving its maximum performance. The solution ranges from medication to lifestyle changes to insulin, helping the body use what it has effectively.

Though not clinically recognized, insulin resistance in Type 3 diabetes affects the brain and disrupts how it utilizes glucose for energy. It’s quite similar to when the car’s wiring starts failing, causing several problems. In the case of diabetes, it causes memory and thinking problems and is often linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Over time, if the high blood sugar caused by diabetes is not well managed, it can result in damage to the eyes, feet, kidneys, heart, and nerves, according to the National Kidney Foundation. However, all hope is not lost. The Mayo Clinic reports that awareness, proper care, and healthy habits can help individuals manage both types of diabetes successfully.

Why This Matters for Black Health

The data from the Cleveland Clinic above isn’t just about numbers and science; it is the reality of millions of Black Americans. Optum Now pointed out that type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in the US Black community, and socioeconomic factors like affordable health care, coupled with stress, diets, and limited space to exercise, play a role.

The long, lingering systemic barriers working against Black people in the US have made preventive care, like regular screening and nutritional guidance, a mirage.

While still battling with the issue of type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is often overlooked. KFF Health News reported that Black adults with type 1 diabetes are sometimes mistakenly diagnosed as type 2, and this error is based on clinical bias, limited testing and systemic inequities; and in most cases, delays proper treatment.

Therefore, more than ever before, it has become crucial to obtain accurate information from healthcare workers. At Elevate Black Health, we recommend that all members of the Black community work towards greater awareness to address disparities and ensure our community receives accurate information and access to quality medical care.