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Commentary: Diabetes – Should You Be Concerned?

Doctors diagnose prediabetes when blood sugar levels are above typical levels but not quite in the diabetes range. CMA says 88 million adults have prediabetes which means high blood sugar levels haven’t reached the damaging levels seen in type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, 84 percent of people don’t know they have prediabetes and if left unchecked, it could eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. Some people live with prediabetes for years before developing type 2 diabetes, and others may not go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

Published

2 years ago

February 2, 2025

Oakland Post

Clifford L. Williams. Courtesy of Clifford L. Williams.

By Clifford L. Williams

Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is often called a silent disease because most people don’t experience any symptoms, according to Rahul Patel, D.O. physician at Crozer Medical Associates (CMA), and associate program director of Internal Medicine at Crozer Health.

According to the National Institutes of Health, hypothetically, central obesity, a condition associated with the higher risk of diabetes type 2 prevalence in men, given that men are more prone to android adiposity with greater abdominal adiposity, compared with women who are more likely to exhibit gynoid adiposity.

Males appear to be more frequently affected by the disease. Although this may vary in different populations, and females appear to show higher sensitivity to insulin. This aspect may be of relevance in insulin treatment and in cases of emergency treatment for hypoglycemia.

However, the disease strikes both men and women, and usually occurs in three stages – prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.

When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Unfortunately, 84 percent of people don’t know they have prediabetes and if left unchecked, it could eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. Some people live with prediabetes for years before developing type 2 diabetes, and others may not go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

CMA noted that type 1 diabetes affects two to four million people in the United States and can occur suddenly, possibly as the result of an infection. Blood glucose levels rise, unchecked. Type 1 diabetes mostly occurs in children and young adults, and less frequently in older people. It also isn’t something you can prevent.

And finally, in comparison, for most people, about 30 to 32 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. While most cases occur over age 40, the disease has begun affecting younger people, including teens and adolescents.

At present, there is no cure for diabetes. People with this disorder can only undergo treatment to prevent further complications associated with the disease. Early detection is always key. It enables people to take quick and appropriate action to ensure the situation does not worsen and complications do not develop. To detect the onset of diabetes as early as possible, doctors and at-risk individuals can watch for certain signs and symptoms.

Some people may be able to manage type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes, such as following a specific eating plan, getting regular exercise, and managing stress. Others may need diabetes medication or insulin to help manage their blood sugar levels. Whichever way you manage your blood sugar levels, keeping them in a safe range can help prevent complications and keep your diabetes from progressing.

About the Author

Clifford Williams is a journalist and author.

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Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

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5 days ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.