By: Opella Ernest, M.D.

August 28th marked the 50th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s renowned “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington. African Americans have indeed made progress on many fronts in this past half-century since Dr. King’s address, but clearly, many issues still demand to be considered and addressed. Among them, the disparity in economic and educational opportunities in our African American communities.

Disparities in access to quality health care continue to be an important focus for providers and insurers alike. One such health disparity is the epidemic of diabetes and obesity. Nationally, the rate of diabetes stands at about nine percent, and that’s considered an epidemic. In the Lawndale communities, the diabetes rate hovers 22 percent, with another 29 percent considered “high risk.”

The seriousness of this health condition in Lawndale was confirmed in the past 18 months or so through the work of the Sinai Urban Health Institute, who went door-to-door to screen residents for diabetes at more than 2,250 homes in both North and South Lawndale. Their excellent clinical work was made possible in part through a two-year, $1.2 million grant provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. Our partners at Mt. Sinai continue doing outstanding outreach work in the communities, and their efforts are to be commended.

Diabetes is a killer in our midst, and the challenges faced by the Sinai team are many and complex. Educating patients about good nutrition, ensuring residents have access to healthy foods, helping people understand the importance of exercise and working to provide children and young people safe places to play are all issues that must be considered when tackling diabetes in our African American communities.

Addressing the diabetes epidemic is the right thing to do for the wellbeing of communities and residents alike. Diabetes robs families of loved ones. It can lead to blindness, amputations and comas. So, it’s not only the right thing to do – it also makes sense when we consider the healthcare costs associated with caring for chronic diseases. It makes far more sense to prevent illness in the first place than paying costly hospital bills. We at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois believe that expanding greater access to care to more people is one of the most important things we can do. We began here in Illinois 77 years ago, and we remain member owned rather than being a publicly traded for-profit company.

That’s why we stepped up to participate in the coming Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace. President Obama’s goal in healthcare reform is to provide affordable healthcare to millions more Americans, and we’re with him on that. If you’d like to learn more about what’s in the new health care law for you, visit our partner website, at: www.BeCoveredIllinois.Org

We are also hosting a Care Fair with our partner organizations on Sunday, October 6th, so mark your calendars now. The event will be held at Chicago Indoor Sports, at 3900 S. Ashland Ave., and runs from 11:00am to 5:00pm with fun family activities, a kids’ zone, free health screenings, experts that can help explain the new health care law and provide assistance in understanding the new health insurance options that may be available to you. You’ll even leave with a free bag of healthy groceries! So, be sure to join us for a fun and informative Sunday afternoon.

Opella Ernest M.D. is Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. In this role, she serves as the primary physician representative to assure effective and efficient delivery of quality medical care. Dr. Ernest received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She earned her doctorate from the Ohio State University College of Medicine. She interned at St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago Illinois and completed her residency in family medicine at Providence Hospital, Southfield Michigan.