Diabetes management among low-income African Americans: a description of a pilot strategy for empowerment.

Incidence of type II diabetes is increasing in the United States and is most prevalent among low-income African Americans. Community health initiatives supported by partnerships of community leaders and health professionals can contribute to the elimination of inequalities in health status. The focus of Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010, an initiative sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is to facilitate the initiation of community-wide changes as well as increase individual empowerment to reduce disparities in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.