Black Health

A Mediaplanet Guide to Health Issues Impacting the Lives of Black Americans

Black Health in America

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford The creator of Therapy for Black Girls talks about the need for mental health resources in underserved communities

Walgreens shares tips for living well while managing high blood pressure Why it’s a critical time to increase mental health support for America’s youth

DECEMBER 2021 | FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH.COM

An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to LA TIMES

Purecane Sugar-Free Brownies

5 Healthy Eating Tips From People Living With Diabetes

better-for-you foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts, I get in some extra walking steps. Every little bit helps!”

4. Restaurant planning “When I go out to eat with friends, I look at the menu prior to going and plan what I’m going to eat when I get there,” said Sarah Bryant of Elgin, South Carolina. “If they don’t have a lot on the menu that I feel like I can eat, I’ll eat before I go. If I don’t get a chance to pre-plan for a restaurant meal, like when I’m traveling, I look for vegetables and seafood, which are usually good bets for me.”

These guilt-free, delectable brownies are impossible to say “no” to.

Ingredients

• 12 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped • 2 tbsp. unsweetened peppermint tea or water • ⅔ cup whole-wheat pastry flour • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1 tsp. sea salt • 1½ cups Purecane™ No Calorie Baking Sweetener • 12 oz. unsalted butter (3 sticks, room temperature) • 8 large eggs (room temperature) • 1 ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract • 1 ½ tbsp. Purecane™ Confectioners Sweetener (Optional)

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

• Gently melt the chocolate with the tea (or water) in a double boiler (or medium mixing bowl placed over a pan of hot water) until smooth.

• Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.

• In a large mixing bowl, beat together the Purecane™ Baking Sweetener and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla, and blend on high speed until smooth.

• Blend or vigorously stir the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until fully combined. Add the cocoa powder mixture, and blend or vigorously stir until well combined.

• Evenly spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake until springy to the touch about 1 inch from the edges, about 32 minutes.

• Cool in the pan on a rack. When completely cool, cut into square-shaped brownies.

• Dust with the Purecane™ Confectioners Sweetener using a fine mesh strainer. (optional) • Serve and enjoy!

This article was paid for by Purecane.

Jackie Newgent, RDN, CDN

@MEDIAPLANETUSA

Here are a few healthy eating tips from people who eat like their lives depend on it, because they actually do.

Even if you don’t have diabetes, read on, because good nutrition is an important key to a longer, healthier life for everyone.

Five American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association Know Diabetes by Heart ambassadors who live with Type 2 diabetes are sharing their stories, tips, and tricks to thrive with diabetes, and prevent heart disease and strokes.

1. Out of sight, out of mind “Whatever I bring in the house is what I eat. If I shouldn’t be eating it, I don’t buy it. Then I only have to say “no” once, instead of every time I walk by the kitchen,” said Annette Lartigue of Trenton, New Jersey.

@FUTUREOFPERSONALHEALTH

2. Be prepared “I prepare healthy snacks, like fruit and raw vegetables, and keep them accessible. That way, if I have a craving for a snack, the healthy choice is the easy choice,” explained Jane DeMeis of Fairport, New York.

3. Strategic shopping “I go for the old trick of shopping around the perimeter of the grocery store,” said Lupe Barraza of Plano, Texas. “In addition to being full of

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5. What’s in a label?

“I’m a big believer in reading labels.

Just because something says it’s low-fat or low-sugar doesn’t mean it’s good for you,” warned Anthony Wilson of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Learning how to understand and use the nutrition facts panel on food items can help you make healthier eating choices and identify nutrient-dense foods for a healthy diet.

Remember that the information shown on the label is based on a diet of 2,000 calories a day. You may need less than or more than 2,000 calories based on your age, gender, activity level, medical conditions, and weight goals.

If the product does not have a label, consider adding an app to your phone that allows you to easily look up nutritional information. Some foods might surprise you with the amount of naturally occurring sugar they contain, but they can still be part of a healthy eating pattern when enjoyed in moderation.

Know Diabetes by Heart is a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association that aims to elevate awareness of the link between Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Learn more about the connection and how to manage it at KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org. n Aschelle Morgan, Know Diabetes by Heart™

PLEASE RECYCLE

Publisher Danielle Elbert, Joanna Tronina, Caroline Dranow, Samantha Jahoda Business Developer Joelle Hernandez, Katie Kon�ıno Managing Director Luciana Olson Lead Designer Ti�fany Pryor Designer Ti�fany Jackson Lead Editor Mina Fanous Copy Editor Dustin Brennan Director of Content and Production Jordan Hernandez Cover Photo Carol Lee Rose, Colurwrk All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve LA Times.

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ALL-NATURAL · ZERO CALORIE SUGAR SUBSTITUTES

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Last year, as the pandemic was at its peak, Michelle Obama disclosed that she had been experiencing lowgrade depression, largely in response to events that were consuming all of us — COVID-19 and racial unrest.

One positive thing that has come out of this time is that people have begun talking more about their mental and emotional health.

Mental health has never been a binary phenomenon, where people either have a mental disorder or they don’t. Over these past two years, everyone’s mental health has been strained.

In addition to being confined and disconnected socially, people have had to deal with anxiety about, and the reality of, illness and death. Then there has been the “vicarious trauma” that happens when people witness violence or the demise of others, which have been regular staples in both the news and social media. Add to that the economic hardships that many have had to face.

For many young people who haven’t had years to build up emotional coping skills or resources, these challenges have been devastating. Youth depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts are at all-time highs. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth have had to face enormous stressors. This is especially true for many Black youth

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Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis

who, as part of the burden of racial trauma, have witnessed others who look like them being killed.

Discrimination, racial bias, and experiencing or witnessing violence — even if not in person — can trigger a host of

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symptoms. Adding to these challenges is the fear in many that little has changed; much like their parents and grandparents before them, they continue to face and fight racism. Hopelessness and anger are not uncommon feelings.

Adding resources Mental Health America of Los Angeles’ Transition-Age Youth programs — which serve young people between the ages of 18 and 25 who are experiencing mental health challenges

— are seeing a host of challenges: increases in substance use to address mental health problems; increased conflict and aggression in families; numerous mental health crises; more panic attacks among youth who are afraid of being profiled or being the target of violence; more homeless young adults; financial hardships, especially for young parents who cannot afford or find childcare for their young children; and, sadly, an increase in young people feeling they need to bear arms because they are afraid.

Fortunately, there are a variety of funding streams and new measures targeting some of these needs: new crisis response teams, online and telephone mental health lines, and peer-support programs with trained peers. But the need is far greater than the resources, and a shortage in the mental health workforce exacerbates the problem.

Community agencies are finding ways to serve more people than ever before, and individuals and community groups are stepping forward to help. But as a society, we need to recognize that this is one of the largest crises of our day, and it is likely to get worse if we don’t see it as the great need that it is. n Christina Miller, Ph.D., President and CEO, Mental Health America of Los Angeles; and Catrina Flores, LCSW, CPRP, Senior Clinical Director and Director, TAY Services, Mental Health America of Los Angeles

The Pressure of Hypertension in African Americans

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Staying on Track with High Blood Pressure One of the most important things you can do to manage high blood pressure is to track it every day to spot trends that warrant a closer look and measure the success of your treatment.

One of the most important things you can do to manage high blood pressure is to track it every day to spot trends that warrant a closer look and measure the success of your treatment.

Hypertension caused or contributed to more than 500,000 deaths in 2019, and Black Americans are disproportionately affected. Hypertension medications work when taken as prescribed, and Walgreens solutions can match patients’ preferences.

How Walgreens can help Walgreens’ suite of tools drives better outcomes: myWalgreens™ for healthy choices® This one-of-a-kind program rewards activities such as monitoring blood pressure, exercising, and taking medications.

One August night in 2011, Richard Horton woke up feeling strange.

As he got up and stumbled across the room, he walked into a wall.

He thought he might be having a stroke, but he quickly brushed it o�f and went back to bed.

Unbeknownst to Horton, a health

insurance broker, years of uncontrolled high blood pressure had wreaked havoc on his blood vessels, causing a hemorrhagic stroke (i.e., a weakened blood vessel had ruptured). While recovering in the hospital, he suffered another stroke. Fully-paralyzed, Horton had to learn how to walk and talk again.

High blood pressure A healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80. The higher a person’s blood pressure is, the more forcefully blood is pumping through the blood vessels.

As the workload increases, the force and friction of high blood pressure damages the delicate tissues inside the arteries.

Over time and left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to life-threatening problems, including heart attack and stroke. People with hypertension also have an increased risk of serious complications and even death from COVID-19.

Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, but the burden of disease is disproportionately higher in Black people, who have among the highest rates of hypertension in the world. Additionally, high blood pressure develops earlier in life and is usually more severe in this community.

While lifestyle factors, such as smoking, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy, high-sodium diet, increase the risk of high blood pressure, the American Heart Association (AHA) recognizes that Black people and other people of color face structural racism that contributes to inequities in access, use, and quality of healthcare.

Removing barriers The AHA has made a commitment to eliminate uncontrolled high blood

pressure, focusing on identifying and removing these health barriers.

Aimed specifically at reducing hypertension as a health disparity in Los Angeles County’s African American community, the AHA and Providence have collaborated to enable community organizations, faith-based groups, and workplace settings to teach members how to self-monitor and manage their blood pressure, and how to seek medical care. The effort is complemented by weekly online health lessons through the spring of 2022 where people learn simple steps to keep their blood pressure healthy and prevent cardiovascular disease.

The AHA is also working with outpatient clinics, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, and equipping them with the tools and resources to empower more than 900,000 patients in L.A.’s under-resourced communities to self-measure and manage their blood pressure. This includes providing complementary self-monitoring blood pressure cuffs to patients, and giving

clinicians access to evidence-based strategies from the AHA’s Target: BP initiative, which informs the way healthcare teams assess and categorize levels of blood pressure, determine cardiovascular disease risk, and guide hypertension management.

The lack of diverse representation in the medical field is another crucial factor that needs to be addressed.

That is why the AHA established the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Scholars Program to increase the number of Black students who apply and are accepted into graduate science, research, and public health programs.

Every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life, and the American Heart Association believes that heart and brain health for all cannot be achieved without addressing uncontrolled high blood pressure and the structural inequities that make healthy choices difficult for many.

Go to heart.org/losangeles to learn more and get involved. n

Re�ıll Reminders: Walgreens’ text, email, and interactive voice response (IVR) notifıcations contact patients to schedule refılls.

Pill Reminder: The free Walgreens App has a feature that reminds patients to take their medications.

Save-a-Trip Re�ılls: Walgreens synchronizes multiple prescriptions for pick-up on the same day.

New-to-Therapy: Shortly after patients fırst fıll their prescription, they receive a wellness call to offer information and address questions that can help prevent barriers to adherence of the next refıll.

Walgreens Health Answers: A resource supporting healthier lifestyles, including Heart Health.

90 day: Walgreens offers 90-day prescription services, which increase adherence.

Blood pressure monitoring: Walgreens sells blood pressure monitors and offers in-store blood pressure checks.

Je�f Somers

American Heart Association

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Having a Real Conversation About HIV and Black Health The Black community has been devastated by HIV for decades, even if the images burned into our memories from the 1980s are of white gay men.

tion to talk about HIV. Mention the importance of getting tested. Get tested yourself.

Talk about the benefits of PrEP; a medication that prevents HIV.

Did you know Black people account for 42 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the country even though we only make up 14 percent of the U.S. population? Moreover, new HIV diagnoses are increasing in Black folks in the 25-34 age range. And there are thousands living with HIV who don’t even know they have the virus because they’ve not been tested.

It is time, after 40 years of the epidemic, for everyone within the Black community — and for everyone who supports us — to acknowledge that HIV is a serious, current problem for Black people in the United States.

Breaking down barriers I am proud to lead an organization working to break down systemic racism. AIDS United works directly with Black communities to build up strategies for creating better health, wellness, and access to care. We have provided millions of dollars in grants and support over the past decade to Black-led, grassroots organizations.

We also work with organizations to help them build trust with Black communities. We regularly train public health practitioners on cultural humility, which promotes self-reflection to help them understand their own beliefs as a step toward learning more fully from — and about — others. This is different from cultural competence, which presumes one can have an expertise in someone else’s culture or experience.

I’m also particularly proud of our upcoming Racial Justice Index. The index is a measurement tool that HIV service organizations will be able to use to identify areas of growth in their policies and practices to root out systemic racism. We’re planning workshops and tools to help infuse racial justice into the work of HIV prevention and care.

We deserve to live our healthiest lives, but we can only end the HIV epidemic by dismantling the racist practices still festering in our systems, and by all of us allied with and in the Black community fighting, learning, and talking about HIV. n

Speaking out Part of the problem arises from stigma and silence.

I am a Black gay man who has been living with HIV for nearly four decades, and has had the immense privilege of being affirmed in my health and wholeness by parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and even my barber. I have only great stories to report; not stories of shame or rejection.

Is that true for you? I know it’s not true for many Black people living with HIV. As Black families gathered for the holidays, did your daughter, son, mother, father, cousin, niece, nephew, or neighbor know HIV is still a problem? Did you talk to them about HIV and how it impacts our community? Did you open your mind and your heart? Or have you maintained the stigma and silence about HIV in your household?

As we enter 2022, the 41st year of the HIV epidemic, make a New Year’s resolu-

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Jesse Milan Jr., President and CEO, AIDS United PHOTO: AIDS UNITED

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Helping Black Girls Confront Mental Health As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford knew all too well the scale of the mental health crisis, as well as the stigma and lack of resources preventing Black females from seeking mental healthcare. She shared why these factors led her to start the platform Therapy for Black Girls, and the need for better mental health resources in underserved communities.

The Importance of Insulin Accessibility and Affordability

PHOTO: CAROL LEE ROSE, COLURWRK

What inspired you to create the platform Therapy for Black Girls?

I created Therapy for Black Girls (TBG) after watching the Black Girls Rock Awards show on BET in 2014. I was so inspired by the energy in the room, even from my living room. I thought it would be cool if I could capture some of that same energy for Black women as it relates to mental health. Looking back, I can see that my experience as a psychologist working in college counseling centers also heavily informed my decision to start TBG. In working on various campuses, it was clear that Black women were not using the services at the same rates as their peers due to the stigma that we know exists toward mental health treatment. Out of that revelation, I began to run groups on these campuses for Black women to come together to share their concerns and get support. I see TBG as an extension of the work that started then.

How can we make sure Black women are getting the support and resources they need?

Continuing to talk about how our mental health is impacted by various factors and what tending to our mental health looks like can go a long way toward helping Black women get the support they need. Every time one Black woman shares her story, it opens the possibility that someone else might feel seen and know they are not alone. Mental health approaches for Black women and girls must be grounded in the various ways that we as Black women have been socialized. Things like the “strong Black woman” trope and the idea that “Black don’t crack” influence how likely we might be to participate in treatment, and how effective interventions might be.

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More than 1.6 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes (T1D), and this number continues to grow. These people need insulin several times a day, every day, just to survive.

Despite the life-saving nature of this drug and studies showing the health impact of affordable insulin, the cost has nearly tripled over the past decade.

It’s no coincidence that the rise in price coincides with more people rationing their insulin; a potentially life-threatening practice. No one should suffer or die because they cannot afford insulin.

As a leader in the fight to end T1D, JDRF has spent years advocating to policymakers, insulin manufacturers, health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and employers, demanding action to lower insulin costs for everyone, regardless of insurance status.

Insulin access Insulin should be available to people with diabetes at a low, predictable out-of-pocket cost. Immediate steps can ensure greater access for those with insurance through the adoption of caps on monthly out-of-pocket costs for insulin, and passing savings from rebates directly to the consumer at the pharmacy counter.

Insulin manufacturers should also take immediate steps to lower their prices and expand patient assistance programs for those who are uninsured or need help with costs. Finally, continued federal funding for community health centers will help make low-cost insulin and other healthcare available across the country.

Insulin choice T1D is a unique disease that affects

everyone differently. The same is true for how insulins work. Health plans and PBMs should allow people access to the insulin that works best for them.

Next-generation therapies We need better therapies that will make managing T1D less burdensome. JDRF is a significant funder of research to advance new, innovative therapies, including insulins. We call for health policies that encourage the research and development of new innovations, and to make these innovations available to everyone.

For more information about JDRF’s efforts to improve access to insulin, please read our Achieving Insulin Access and Innovation principles. n Aaron Turner-Phifer, Director, Health Policy, JDRF

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (CONT'D) Before using SEMGLEE, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions including if you: • have liver or kidney problems.

• take other medicines, especially ones called TZDs (thiazolidinediones).

• have heart failure or other heart problems. If you have heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with SEMGLEE. • are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if SEMGLEE may harm your unborn baby or breastfeeding baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Before you start using SEMGLEE, talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.

Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you chose with each dose to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pitted or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites. Do not use the same spot for each injection or inject where the skin is pitted, thickened, lumpy, tender, bruised, scaly, hard, scarred or damaged. Tell your doctor if you have any new or worsening symptoms of heart failure, including shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet, sudden weight gain.

SEMGLEE should be taken once a day at the same time every day. Test your blood sugar levels while using insulin, such as SEMGLEE. Do not make any changes to your dose or type of insulin without talking to your healthcare provider. Any change of insulin should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision.

Do NOT dilute or mix SEMGLEE with any other insulin or solution. It will not work as intended and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be serious. SEMGLEE must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with no particles visible. Always make sure you have the correct insulin before each injection.

While using SEMGLEE, do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how SEMGLEE affects you. You should not drink alcohol or use other medicines that contain alcohol.

The most common side effect of insulin, including SEMGLEE, is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may be serious and life threatening. It may cause harm to your heart or brain. Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability or mood change and hunger.

SEMGLEE may cause serious side effects that can lead to death, such as severe allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you have: A rash over your whole body, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, sweating, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, shortness of breath, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion.

Other possible side effects may include swelling, weight gain, low potassium levels, injection site reactions, including changes in fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions.

Important Safety Information for SEMGLEE (insulin glargine-yfgn) injection pen SEMGLEE pen is a disposable single-patient-use prefilled insulin pen. Please talk to your healthcare provider about proper injection technique and follow instructions in the Instruction Leaflet that accompanies the pen.

These are not all the possible side effects of SEMGLEE. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

This summary does not include all the information about SEMGLEE and is not meant to take the place of a discussion with your healthcare provider about your treatment.

SEMGLEE and the Semglee Logo are registered trademarks of Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Viatris Company.

VIATRIS and the Viatris Logo are trademarks of Mylan Inc., a Viatris Company.

The Viatris Advocate Logo is a registered trademark of Mylan Inc., a Viatris Company. © 2021 Viatris Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SEMI-2021-0080

Please see Drug Facts for SEMGLEE on the next page.

Please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.

Rx Product Active ingredient in the injection solution Insulin glargine-yfgn 100 units/mL (U-100) Purpose Used for control of high blood sugar in adults and pediatric patients (6 years of age and older) with Type 1 diabetes and in adults with Type 2 diabetes Uses: Prescription SEMGLEE is a long-acting man-made-insulin used for control of high blood sugar in adults and pediatric patients (6 years of age and older) with Type 1 diabetes and in adults with Type 2 diabetes.

SEMGLEE is not for use to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.

• It is not known if SEMGLEE is safe and effective in children less than 6 years of age with type 1 diabetes.

• It is not known if SEMGLEE is safe and effective in children with type 2 diabetes.

Warnings What is the most important information about SEMGLEE? Do not share your SEMGLEE pen or syringe with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.

Do not use SEMGLEE if you are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Do not use SEMGLEE if you have an allergy to insulin glargine products or any of the ingredients in SEMGLEE. Before using SEMGLEE tell your doctor: • If you have liver or kidney problems.

• If you take other medicines, especially ones called TZDs (thiazolidinediones).

• If you have heart failure or other heart problems. If you have heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with SEMGLEE. • If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if SEMGLEE may harm your unborn baby or breastfeeding baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Before you start using SEMGLEE, talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.

Do not use SEMGLEE: • If it is cloudy or slightly colored, or if you see particles in the solution.

• In an insulin pump or inject SEMGLEE into your vein (intravenously).

• On exact same spot for each injection. • Where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps. • Where skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or inject into scars or damaged skin. • For a condition for which it was not prescribed. • After the expiration date printed on the label of the pen or on the carton. • Do not mix SEMGLEE with other insulins.

When using SEMGLEE, the following serious side effects may occur: • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include: • Dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability or mood change and hunger.

• Severe allergic reaction (whole body reaction). Get medical help right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of a severe allergic reaction: • A rash over your whole body, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, or sweating.

• Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia).

• Heart failure. Taking certain diabetes pills called TZDs (thiazolidinediones) with SEMGLEE may cause heart failure in some people. This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems before. If you already have heart failure it may get worse while you take TZDs with

SEMGLEE. Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely while you are taking TZDs with SEMGLEE. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worse symptoms of heart failure including: • Shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet, sudden weight gain.

Treatment with TZDs and SEMGLEE may need to be changed or stopped by your healthcare provider if you have new or worse heart failure.

Get emergency medical help if you have: • Trouble breathing • Shortness of breath • Fast heartbeat • Swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, • Sweating • Extreme drowsiness • Dizziness • Confusion.

The most common side effects of SEMGLEE include: • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) • Weight gain • Allergic reactions, including reactions at your injection site • Skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy).

Directions • Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come with your SEMGLEE insulin vial or single-patient-use prefilled pen. • Use SEMGLEE exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.

Your healthcare provider should tell you how much SEMGLEE to use and when to use it. • Know the amount of SEMGLEE you use. Do not change the amount of SEMGLEE you use unless your healthcare provider tells you to. • Check your insulin label each time you give your injection to make sure you are using the correct insulin. • If using the vial, always use a syringe that is marked for U-100 insulin • Only use SEMGLEE that is clear and colorless. Do not use SEMGLEE if it is cloudy or slightly colored, or if you see particles in the solution; return it to your pharmacy for a replacement. • SEMGLEE comes in a single-patient-use prefilled pen, which you may use to administer your SEMGLEE dose. The dose counter on your pen shows your dose of SEMGLEE. Do not make any dose changes unless your healthcare provider tells you to. • SEMGLEE also comes in a multiple-dose vial. • Do not use a syringe to remove SEMGLEE from your disposable prefilled pen. • Do not re-use needles. Always use a new needle for each injection. Re-use of needles increases your risk of having blocked needles, which may cause you to get the wrong dose of SEMGLEE. Using a new needle for each injection lowers your risk of getting an infection.

• You may take SEMGLEE at any time during the day, but you must take it at the same time every day • SEMGLEE is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your upper legs (thigh), upper arms, or stomach area (abdomen). • Do not use SEMGLEE in an insulin pump or inject SEMGLEE into your vein (intravenously). • Change (rotate) injection sites within the area you chose with each dose to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites. • Do not mix SEMGLEE with any other type of insulin or liquid medicine. • Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your healthcare provider what your blood sugar should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels.

Other information: • For subcutaneous (under the skin) use • Store unused SEMGLEE vials and prefilled pens in the refrigerator between 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C) until the expiration date. If your unopened SEMGLEE vial or prefilled pen is stored at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C), it should be thrown away after 28 days. • Store in-use (opened) SEMGLEE vials in a refrigerator or room temperature and in-use (opened) SEMGLEE prefilled pens at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C). • The SEMGLEE vials and prefilled pens you are using should be thrown away after 28 days, even if it still has insulin left in it. • Do not freeze SEMGLEE. • Keep SEMGLEE out of direct heat and light. • If vials and prefilled pens have been frozen or overheated, throw them away. • Protect your SEMGLEE from dust and dirt. • You can clean the outside of your SEMGLEE by wiping it with a damp cloth. • Do not soak, wash, or lubricate the pen as this may damage it. • Keep SEMGLEE and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Inactive Ingredients: • zinc chloride, • glycerol, • polysorbate-20, • metacresol, and • water for injection These are not all the possible side effects of SEMGLEE. To learn more, talk about SEMGLEE with your health care provider or pharmacist. The FDA-approved product label can be found at DailyMed - SEMGLEE- insulin glargine injection, solution or call 1-877-446-3679

Get to Know the Different Types of Diabetes You know diabetes, right? Maybe your father or mother has it. Maybe you have it. But did you know there are different types of diabetes?

A

life-threatening complication of diabetes is diabetic ketoacidosis, due to a shortage of insulin. This causes symptoms like dehydration, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and difficulty breathing. If it’s not caught early on, it can be fatal.

Unfortunately, a significant percentage of people experience diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis. There are two things that can help: 1. Knowing the symptoms: Warning signs of Type 1 diabetes often appear suddenly and sometimes require immediate medical attention, and involve such things as extreme thirst, unex-

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plained weight loss, dry mouth, frequent urination, fatigue, fruity breath odor, and sudden vision changes.

2. Knowing your risk status: With an easy-to-use blood test taken at home, you can find out — before symptoms occur — if you are at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. Kits are $55 plus tax, with the option to order a subsidized kit ($10 plus tax) if you are unable to afford the full-priced cost. You’ll receive your results, explanation of what they mean, and next steps through your account on the testing website.

A�ter diagnosis Did you know that in Type 1 diabetes,

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the average glucose levels for Black young adults are 10.7 percent, compared with 8.5 percent for white young adults? (For reference, 6.5 percent is regarded as diabetes, 8.5 percent is perceived as “good,” whereas 10.7 percent is considered “dangerous.”)

From prescription drugs to diabetes technology, JDRF is working to make sure every individual with Type 1 diabetes has the same opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life. We do this through: Support and community building Newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes?

JDRF has the information you need to understand and manage the disease,

Advocacy Our Health Insurance Guide helps people understand how they can get help with prescription and insulin costs, how to choose a plan, and how to navigate losing coverage, denials and appeals, and applying for exceptions.

find clinical trials in their area.

As the largest nonprofit funder of Type 1 diabetes research, and a passionate advocate for policies and treatments that improve the quality of life for those living with the disease, JDRF exists so Type 1 diabetes won’t.

Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat Type 1 diabetes and its complications through research, advocacy, and community engagement. Learn more at jdrf.org n

Clinical trials JDRF has an online tool to help anyone

Alexandra Mulvey, Senior Manager of Content and Communication, JDRF

including our Bag of Hope and No Limits Teen and Adult care kits.

JDRF volunteers are people who understand the demands of living with the disease, and are available to help anyone at any age.

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lymphoma.org

Finding Cures, Fostering Hope.

Each year, the Lymphoma Research Foundation serves more than two million patients and their loved ones through education programs, resources, and support services. Whether newly diagnosed, seeking detailed information about lymphoma, or in need of individual support, we are here to help.

As the nation’s largest lymphoma-focused health organization, we’re also committed to funding the most promising lymphoma researchers and advancing the understanding of the more than 100 different subtypes of lymphoma. Our disease specificity and hyper-focus on finding cures for every type of lymphoma ensure a brighter future for all those touched by this disease.

Finding cures starts here.

EDUCATION RESOURCES

SUPPORT SERVICES

INNOVATIVE RESEARCH

Protecting Prostate Health Is a Partnership Between Patient and Physician When it comes to early detection of prostate cancer, informed, shared decision-making is essential so people understand the bene�ıts and risks of screening.

Health decisions work best when they are made as a partnership between patient and physician.

In the United States, males have a 1-in-8 chance of eventually being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and a 1-in-41 chance of dying from it.

Fortunately, death rates have fallen by 52 percent from 1993 to 2018, largely thanks to early detection and improved treatment.

Prostate cancer early detection programs using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for healthy people can turn up both slower- and faster-growing disease. There are recommended methods for reducing unnecessary biopsies and over-diagnosis, particularly for patients with mildly elevated PSA levels.

PSA testing for healthy, informed individuals is currently recommended at age 45-75 for average-risk people, and age 40-75 for those in higher-risk groups.

Those higher-risk groups include: people with inherited genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA2), those with a family history of cancer (especially metastatic prostate cancer, breast cancer diagnosed by age 45, and ovarian cancer), and Black men.

High risk Black men have a higher incidence of

prostate cancer, increased prostate cancer mortality, and earlier age of diagnosis. Black men are much more likely to die from prostate cancer because of lower rates of screening and treatment for the disease. Genetics actually make up a very small percentage of the increased risk.

Additionally, it’s important that anyone with a prostate, regardless of their gender identity, have PSA screening discussions with their doctor.

Healthcare is personal. Prostate

cancer screenings save lives, however, they can also lead to unnecessary anxiety, distress, or intervention-related side effects. Communication between patients and healthcare providers is key to making sure the right people receive the appropriate screening to safeguard their health. n Kelvin A. Moses, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, Associate Professor of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; and Preston Sprenkle, M.D., Associate Professor of Urology, Yale University School of Medicine

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The Importance of Imaging for Prostate Cancer Patients One in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. While it’s a serious disease, it’s not always deadly.

More than 3 million men in the United States, who have been diagnosed, are still alive.

Early detection through doctor exams and PSA blood tests means more men can get diagnosed and treated sooner.

If PSA tests are elevated after prior treatment, a doctor may request additional tests, like PET imaging or an MRI, which evaluate the likelihood of cancer in a given region. Blue Earth Diagnostics was the first to market with an FDA-ap-

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proved PET diagnostic imaging radiopharmaceutical to detect and localize recurrent prostate cancer.

“Diagnostic imaging has helped us to identify patients who are not only at risk of recurrent prostate cancer, but more specifically, those men who are at risk of aggressive recurrent disease,” says Brian T. Helfand M.D., Ph.D., chief of the division of urology at Ronald L. Chez Family and the Richard Melman Family Endowed Chair of Prostate Cancer.

Dr. Helfand, who’s also clinical professor at the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, says that distinction is important because men with aggressive recurrent prostate dis-

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ease should be treated, and those men with lower risk or less aggressive types of tumors should be followed over time, under “active surveillance.”

Diagnostic imaging helps doctors with that surveillance, which is important since prostate cancer has a recurrence rate of 30 percent or higher.

“In the past five-plus years, diagnostic imaging has really changed the bar of how to manage patients who have prostate cancer recurrence,” he says.

Silent killer Landi Maduro knows firsthand the importance of early detection. Her

father was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago. Now 72, his prostate cancer is still under active surveillance.

“With diagnostic imaging, they can identify the extent of recurrent disease,” she says.

At the time of her father’s diagnosis, Maduro, an African American filmmaker, had recently started shooting a documentary about prostate cancer.

Her film partner’s father and brother were diagnosed with the disease.

The filmmakers learned Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer compared to men of other races. Their award-winning film, “The Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer in the African Ameri-

can Community,” breaks the taboos and stigmas surrounding prostate cancer.

“I don’t want anyone to feel like they’re alone in dealing with prostate cancer,” says Maduro, who encourages men to be their own advocates and reach out for support. n Kristen Castillo

To learn more, visit blueearthdiagnostics.com.

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