Worried about the toll diabetes, stress, and chronic illness are taking on Black communities? For too many, it’s not just about living fewer years—it’s about living with less freedom, more disability, and the loss of wisdom we should be passing to future generations.
In this video, Dr. Cheryl E. Woodson explains how diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and the daily stress of systemic racism combine to raise cortisol, fuel inflammation, and increase rates of strokes, heart disease, and kidney failure. She breaks down why these social and medical factors cut life expectancy short and make chronic illness harder to manage.
Dr. Woodson introduces a 10-question framework to help families build realistic, long-term care plans. She shows how caregivers can partner with doctors, recognize warning signs early, and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations—keeping loved ones safer and healthier at home.
The good news? With the right tools, better care coordination, and stronger support for caregivers, we can protect health, extend life, and keep more years of contribution and wisdom in our communities.
RELATED: A Geriatrician Explains: The 5 Keys to Caregiver Survivorship
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