What to Know About Diabetes

Over 34 million people in the U.S. are affected by diabetes. Dr. Holly Phillips explains that it's a dysfunction in the body's ability to metabolize glucose, secrete insulin or both. It affects people of all ages, races and ethnicities. But for African Americans, the risk of diabetes is 77% higher than for non Hispanic white Americans. African Americans are also almost 50% more likely than non Hispanic whites to develop diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision loss and blindness.