Nov. 14 is World Diabetes Day

Diabetes affects 3.7 million African-Americans.

Get the Facts - The International Diabetes Federation has designated Nov. 14 World Diabetes Day in an effort to raise awareness about the disease. Keep reading for a breakdown of how the disease impacts African-Americans and what you can do to improve your health. – Britt Middleton (Photo: Facebook/diabetesribbon)

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Get the Facts - The International Diabetes Federation has designated Nov. 14 World Diabetes Day in an effort to raise awareness about the disease. Keep reading for a breakdown of how the disease impacts African-Americans and what you can do to improve your health. – Britt Middleton (Photo: Facebook/diabetesribbon)

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African-Americans and Diabetes - In the U.S. an estimated 3.7 million African-Americans over the age of 20 suffer from diabetes, and African-Americans are more likely to develop life-threatening complications from the disease than other racial groups. (Source: ADA) (Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc)

What Causes Diabetes? - Diabetes is a disease caused by a build-up of sugar in your blood. Your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into your body's cells, but a person with diabetes doesn't make enough insulin or their body doesn't process it as efficiently as a healthy person. (Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (Photo: GettyImages)

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What Causes Diabetes? - Diabetes is a disease caused by a build-up of sugar in your blood. Your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into your body's cells, but a person with diabetes doesn't make enough insulin or their body doesn't process it as efficiently as a healthy person. (Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (Photo: GettyImages)

In Good Hands - 80.5 percent: percentage of Blacks that were covered by health insurance during all or part of 2011. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Breaking Down Diabetes  - A person can either be diagnosed with Type I diabetes, which is typically diagnosed in children and teens, or Type II diabetes, which is most often diagnosed in adults, with increased risk for those who are obese. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women develop. (Source: CDC) (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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What Are the Symptoms?  - High blood sugar levels can cause symptoms like blurry vision, excessive thirst, fatigue, hunger, frequent urination and weight loss. Some with Type II diabetes may show no symptoms. (Source: CDC) (Photo: Stuart O'Sullivan/ Getty Images) 

Photo By Stuart O'Sullivan/ Getty Images

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Diabetes Costs Nation $245 Billion Annually - A new study found that diabetes-related costs have gone up 41 percent in the past five years, reported USA Today. Researchers from the American Diabetes Association found that this massive increase isn’t due to rising treatment costs per patient, but because millions more people were diagnosed with diabetes over the years. (Photo: Leland Bobbe / Getty Images)

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How Is Diabetes Treated? - In Type I diabetes, daily injections of insulin are needed to control blood sugar. In both Type I and Type II diabetes, a combination of medication and changes in diet and exercise can help control symptoms. (Source: CDC) (Photo: GettyImages) 

Cheating the Tests - A urine sample is the most common test for performance-enhancing drugs. In order to "beat" the test, some athletes resort to swapping their urine with someone who is not using banned substances. (Photo: Purestock/Getty Images)

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How Is Diabetes Detected?  - Your doctor may take a urine sample or blood sample to determine if your blood sugar levels are within normal range. (Source: CDC) (Photo: GettyImages)

Prepping for Your Test - You have made your doctor’s appointment, but there some things that you can do to prepare for it, says Mayo Clinic. Make sure that you know of any restrictions — some tests may require that you do not eat 12 hours or more before the test. Jot down any symptoms you may have had so you can talk to your doctor about it and a list of any medicines or vitamins you are taking.  (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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Racial Disparities - African-Americans are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes as whites. (Source: American Diabetes Association) (Photo: GettyImages)

Entitlements - If the government were to default on its loans it would have to begin prioritizing who gets paid first. Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries could see their benefits cut and military personnel would not be paid.(Photo: AP Photo/Joey Ivansco)

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Diabetes Complications in Blacks  - Blacks are almost 50 percent as likely to develop blindness resulting from diabetes as whites, as much as six times as likely to develop kidney disease and nearly three times as likely to suffer from lower-limb amputations. Additionally, diabetes can cause severe nerve damage in the hands and feet as well as increase the risk of heart disease or stroke. (Source: ADA) (Photo: AP Photo/Joey Ivansco)

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Prevention  - Maintaining a healthy body weight through diet and exercise can help prevent Type II diabetes.  There is no way yet to prevent Type I diabetes. (Source: CDC)  (Photo: The Plain Dealer /Landov)

Photo By Photo: Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer/Landov

For More Information - To learn more about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association. (Photo: American Diabetes Association)

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For More Information - To learn more about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association. (Photo: American Diabetes Association)