Type 2 diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people and their families -- especially African Americans who are at an even higher risk for this serious chronic condition. An estimated 3.7 million or 14.7 percent of all non-Hispanic blacks age 20 and older have diabetes. While diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and kidney disease and can cause blindness and amputation of feet and legs, there is hope.