Aging Forward: Wellness for Women in Motion

From managing chronic conditions like diabetes to embracing mindfulness and navigating a complex healthcare system, this blog explores what successful aging means for African American women aged 35–75. Each section below offers practical, personal, and community-centered strategies that meet us where we are, providing evidence-based guidance that is both relevant and actionable.

A healthcare professional and a patient share a supportive moment, underscoring the importance of prioritizing health.

The Hidden Truth About Diabetes – How to Navigate It in 2025

Too many Black women and other women live with undiagnosed diabetes, often unaware until symptoms become undeniable. The truth is, we frequently push through discomfort because we've been taught to be strong. However, knowing your numbers is not a sign of weakness; it's a form of wisdom. This month, we open the door to understanding diabetes and how everyday movement in our homes and neighborhoods can help us manage or prevent it. More than 1 in 9 African American women live with diabetes, and thousands more are prediabetic without knowing it. Risk factors increase with age, weight, and family history, but structural barriers, such as unequal access to care, often delay diagnosis. That’s why taking gentle, informed steps toward prevention and treatment is essential.

Meaningful Movement at Home

You don’t need a gym – seriously, you don’t. Our lives are full of opportunities to move: cleaning out the fridge, weeding the garden, washing our car, or walking a few laps around the block (and adding a few jaunts around the beauty supply store in search of “the” product can add at least 1,000 steps, am I right??). Movement is the key that keeps our blood sugar regulated, and our bodies energized. Even tidying the deck or standing while cooking helps.

Start With One Step

Here are a few practical, budget-friendly ways to prioritize your health:

• Schedule a visit with your primary care provider and request an A1C test.

• After breakfast, lunch, or dinner, take a 10-minute walk—even indoors or in place.

• For a more organized fitness routine, consider joining your local YMCA. Don’t forget to inquire about discounts at a community recreation center.

• Check your local library community board or your local faith-based institution to learn if annual blood pressure or glucose screenings are being offered near you.

• Find an accountability partner with whom you can enjoy exercising. If you prefer to go it solo, consider looking for apps designed to help you stay accountable for your fitness goals. These apps support your exercise routines by offering features such as goal setting, progress tracking, and social interaction to keep you motivated and on track.

  
  

Centering Through Faith and Mindfulness

Whether it’s prayer, meditation, or a quiet moment with your journal, creating a space to reflect helps us feel grounded. If you’re on a healing journey, try adding five minutes of stillness to your morning or night. You may also want to explore this brief, beginner-friendly meditation on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inpok4MKVLM

Resources

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/

• Prediabetes Risk Test (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):

https://www.cdc.gov/prediabetes/takethetest/

• Discounts on Fitness Activities (and if you are eligible, don’t forget to ask about senior discounts): Check with your local Y or Parks & Rec Department

• Accountability apps that include fitness and nutrition, and organization: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/08/18/13-accountability-apps-to-keep-your-goals-from-slipping-through-the-cracks/

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Janine E. Payne, MPH

Co-Director, IAWH