Humboldt Park Leads In Diabetes

By Sean Stillmaker in News on Jun 5, 2010 8:00PM

Chicago is the second largest home for Puerto Ricans in the U.S., but diabetes prevalence in the community is the highest in the nation. Almost 21 percent of the Puerto Rican adult population living in Humboldt Park has Type 2 diabetes - three times the national average - according to a four year research study by the Sinai Urban Health Institute. New York has the most Puerto Ricans in the U.S., but diabetes prevalence is 11 percent of the population, while Puerto Rico only had 9.6 percent.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common; the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Our bodies break down all food into energy for cells; insulin takes sugar from the blood into the cells.

Alarmed at this increasing problem The Greater Humboldt Park Community Campaign Against Diabetes was formed. Starting this summer four diabetes block captains will go door-to-door collecting data and create awareness. They expect 1,300 to 2,000 of those surveyed to be diagnosed with diabetes. “The community needs more information about the risks,” Digna Gerena, a block captain and diabetic told LISC.

The Empowerment Center, 2753 W. Division St., opened in April and is serving as the central hub for the campaign. It has exercise programming, educational videos, a specialized nurse on hand and a demonstration kitchen providing diabetic cooking tips.