By Victoria Mejicanos
AFRO Staff Writer
vmejicanos@afro.com
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes is on the rise nationwide, recently reaching as high as 830 million in 2022. However, an overlooked group that experiences higher rates of diabetes are those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 6 individuals with disabilities also had diabetes in 2020.
The Institute for Exceptional Care, a nonprofit organization that advocates for better healthcare for disabled individuals, reports that 30 percent of individuals with IDD are “Black, Brown or low-income.”
This disparity is compounded by barriers to maintaining adequate physical activity. Those with cognitive and physical disabilities are more likely to live sedentary lifestyles, leading to an increased likelihood of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Each of these conditions is linked with the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Limited access to adaptive programs and supports can make healthcare inaccessible, according to Dr. Craig Escudé, a family physician and president of IntellectAbility, a company that provides software and education services to those who serve disabled communities.
“Without targeted interventions, these factors contribute to sedentary lifestyles and increased risk of secondary health complications,” said Escudé in a press release sent to the AFRO.
In addition to limited mobility, people with IDD also rely on familiar routines, including consistently eating the same foods that have their preferred texture, flavor or color. This makes it hard to improve nutrition, if the preferred food is unhealthy. At the same time, developmental disabilities may cause limitations on the type of food that can be eaten, and how it is consumed, like through a feeding tube.
Once diagnosed, consistent monitoring of blood glucose levels and insulin administration is required through the use of needle pricks which can cause distress for people with disabilities.
“Blood glucose monitoring in people with IDD is often complicated by sensory sensitivities, communication barriers and the need for consistent, trained supporters,” said Dr. Escudé.
Not only is monitoring complicated, it is also expensive.
In a survey conducted by the American Diabetes Association in 2023, about 31 percent of respondents said that they did not self-monitor glucose levels because blood glucose monitoring test strips were too expensive.
People with disabilities are also more likely to be low income. Many who rely on social security (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSID) and have a set amount of financial resources available each month. These supports are often meant to help those with disabilities that cannot obtain employment. Even those that are able to work may face barriers to employment due to personal biases of hiring managers.
These barriers to employment are then compounded by health challenges that often go unnoticed and untreated.
According to a press release sent to the AFRO, early detection of health issues is essential, as they may be connected to larger diseases like diabetes. Signs include:
– Sudden behavior or mood changes
– Increased thirst or urination
– Unexplained fatigue or weakness
– Unsteady gait or increased falls
– Slow-healing wounds or skin changes