In 2023, diabetes was diagnosed in 1 in 6 adults with the lowest incomes (16.7% at 0\u201399% of the federal poverty line), compared to 1 in 11 adults with the highest incomes (8.9% at 300% or more of the federal poverty line). Age is a factor, too: more than 1 in 5 older adults age 65 and over (22.3%) had diabetes, about twice the rate of adults age 18\u201364 (8.6%).\n<\/p>\n
Another study by\u00a0Health Economics and Evaluation Research (HEER)<\/a> mapped patients with diabetes in California who had amputations. Researchers found that patients living in low-income ZIP codes were far more likely to have had lower-limb amputations than those in higher-income ZIP codes, essentially identifying amputation \u201chot spots.\u201d<\/p>\n At the time of Glover\u2019s 2018 diagnosis, he was experiencing housing instability and going through financial hardships. Now, he has more stable housing and he has improved his health through lifestyle changes like eating healthier and getting more sleep.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIf the equipment is right, I can stand on my leg for hours.\u00a0 I can actually run, jump, dance and all of that,\u201d said Glover, who got his diabetes under control, in part, by avoiding carbohydrates and sugars.\n<\/p>\n As chronic illnesses continue to disproportionately impact Black Californians \u2014 often leading to preventable amputations and premature deaths \u2014 a growing number of doctors and advocates<\/a> are expanding their care from just treatment to including prevention. From promoting diet and lifestyle changes to cultivating community farms focused on prevention and wellness like Dr. Bill Releford\u2019s Bloom Ranch in Acton.\n<\/p>\n Releford, a podiatrist based in Los Angeles started the 250-acre Bloom Ranch<\/a> in 2023 as part of his strategy for preventive care.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my assignment,\u201d said Releford.\n<\/p>\n \u201cBloom Ranch has been a perfect backdrop for me to be creative and to find avant-garde ways to make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to food deserts in Los Angeles County,\u201d he stated.\n<\/p>\n California produces nearly half of the nation\u2019s fruits and vegetables,\u00a0yet more than 1 in 5 Californians \u2014 about 8.8 million people \u2014 currently struggle with food insecurity, according to the California Association of Food Banks<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \u201cStudies have shown that 75% of amputations are preventable. And African Americans have the highest amputation rate in the nation,\u201d Releford said.\n<\/p>\n As such, Releford continued, the mortality rate associated with high-level amputation is 50%, which means \u201cif we had 10 people that all had high level amputations, five of those would be deceased in three years.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Monday, June 28, 2025. Leibo Glover at his home in Los Angeles, California. The security professional\u2019s leg was amputated below the knee.<\/p>\n Releford\u2019s ranch is the largest Black-owned farm in L.A. County. He plans to partner with UCLA and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science to develop prescriptive vegetable boxes.\n<\/p>\n \u201cCertain vegetables and herbs can lower blood pressure naturally, like beets, turnips, dill, basil, garlic and others,\u201d said Releford.\n<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully, this will inspire other farmers to take this model and replicate it across other urban areas,\u201d Releford added.\n<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of studies have shown that gardening has so many health benefits \u2013 being in the sun, Vitamin D,\u201d said Releford. \u201cThe dirt has a lot of microbes that are good for your immune system. Studies have shown that people who work in the dirt have strong immune systems.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Gardening can potentially decrease the risk of dementia, enhance cognition, reduce stress, and boost immunity, indicates research by Genoa Barrow<\/a> of the University of Southern California Center for Health Journalism as part of the 2024 Ethnic Media Collaborative, Healing California.\n<\/p>\n During a recent picturesque day at Bloom Ranch, families, school children, farmers and members of The Ultimate Book Club 1998, founded by Alina Anderson, sampled and purchased fresh produce while taking photographs.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThis is huge. \u201cAll of us have families that could use this information,\u201d said Anderson.\n<\/p>\n Doctors like Releford, who are committed to tackling the most chronic diseases impacting all their patients utilize peer-to-peer support programs with self-management training led by individuals living with chronic conditions to provide role models and support for patients, according to a recent study<\/a> by the California Health Care Foundation.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe unifying feature of these programs is that they seek to build on the strengths, knowledge, and experience that peers can offer,\u201d the report states.\n<\/p>\n Liz Helms, CEO of the California Chronic Care Coalition,\u00a0addressed state-backed prevention policy and initiatives.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s in horrible shape. It needs to get so much better, especially in underserved areas, where the Black population has a whole set of different needs,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n Helms, who started advocacy after being denied access to care in the early 1990s, applauded new developments in telehealth.\u00a0 The opportunity to choose between visiting a doctor\u2019s office or placing a phone call makes a difference, especially if there are transportation or distance issues, or if one is too sick, she said.\n<\/p>\n Fear is one thing people, especially in the Black community, must overcome, emphasized Helms.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI had to get over my fear of going to the doctor, of not speaking up,\u201d continued Helms, urging patients to \u201cunderstand the baseline\u201d of their health.\n<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let anyone stigmatize you or tell you that you\u2019re not good enough to get care or look down on you. Everyone has a right to good, quality, affordable, timely health care,\u201d said Helms.\n<\/p>\n![\"Health](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3BybN3kIvEU-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>TrendingHealth Equity Bureau, Black Women\u2019s Wealth Alliance and Metro Economic Dev. Assoc.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Monday,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Unknown-48-682x1024.png\")
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