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Commentary: Diabetes – Should You Be Concerned?

Doctors diagnose prediabetes when blood sugar levels are above typical levels but not quite in the diabetes range. CMA says 88 million adults have prediabetes which means high blood sugar levels haven’t reached the damaging levels seen in type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, 84 percent of people don’t know they have prediabetes and if left unchecked, it could eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. Some people live with prediabetes for years before developing type 2 diabetes, and others may not go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

Published

1 year ago

February 2, 2025

Oakland Post

Clifford L. Williams. Courtesy of Clifford L. Williams.

By Clifford L. Williams

Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is often called a silent disease because most people don’t experience any symptoms, according to Rahul Patel, D.O. physician at Crozer Medical Associates (CMA), and associate program director of Internal Medicine at Crozer Health.

According to the National Institutes of Health, hypothetically, central obesity, a condition associated with the higher risk of diabetes type 2 prevalence in men, given that men are more prone to android adiposity with greater abdominal adiposity, compared with women who are more likely to exhibit gynoid adiposity.

Males appear to be more frequently affected by the disease. Although this may vary in different populations, and females appear to show higher sensitivity to insulin. This aspect may be of relevance in insulin treatment and in cases of emergency treatment for hypoglycemia.

However, the disease strikes both men and women, and usually occurs in three stages – prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.

When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Unfortunately, 84 percent of people don’t know they have prediabetes and if left unchecked, it could eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. Some people live with prediabetes for years before developing type 2 diabetes, and others may not go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

CMA noted that type 1 diabetes affects two to four million people in the United States and can occur suddenly, possibly as the result of an infection. Blood glucose levels rise, unchecked. Type 1 diabetes mostly occurs in children and young adults, and less frequently in older people. It also isn’t something you can prevent.

And finally, in comparison, for most people, about 30 to 32 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. While most cases occur over age 40, the disease has begun affecting younger people, including teens and adolescents.

At present, there is no cure for diabetes. People with this disorder can only undergo treatment to prevent further complications associated with the disease. Early detection is always key. It enables people to take quick and appropriate action to ensure the situation does not worsen and complications do not develop. To detect the onset of diabetes as early as possible, doctors and at-risk individuals can watch for certain signs and symptoms.

Some people may be able to manage type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes, such as following a specific eating plan, getting regular exercise, and managing stress. Others may need diabetes medication or insulin to help manage their blood sugar levels. Whichever way you manage your blood sugar levels, keeping them in a safe range can help prevent complications and keep your diabetes from progressing.

About the Author

Clifford Williams is a journalist and author.

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

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3 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

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Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.