5 Questions with Kalilah Allen Harris, Miss Black USA 2007
Kalilah Allen Harris, Miss Black USA 2007, is a medical student whose platform is juvenile diabetes research and education.

1. Why did you choose juvenile diabetes research and education as your platform?
When I was 14 years old, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Since then, diabetes has been a part of my life, and I know how it can affect people, every day. I recognize that day-to-day management is one of the most challenging aspects of having diabetes. Living with diabetes has made me realize how important it is for me to spread the word about the disease, in order to increase education and also encourage diabetes research. Being Miss Black USA provides a national stage that will enable me to speak to a more extensive audience and have a broader reach.

2. What are some specific goals you hope to accomplish as Miss Black USA?
I am currently working with the Royal Victoria Hospital in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, to help build a children's surgical center. This cause is very important to me, but the disease that affects Gambians more than any other is diabetes. People often think that AIDS is the most prevalent disease everywhere in Africa, but in Gambia, diabetes affects a large number of people. I hope to help increase awareness and also encourage Gambians, and US citizens as well, to be screened for diabetes. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 6 million people with undiagnosed diabetes. If I am able to reach out to some of those people and guide them to receive an accurate diagnosis, that would be wonderful.

3. Have your trips to Gambia changed your perspective on diabetes?
Certainly. It seems to me that in the United States, it is not necessarily such a big deal to be diagnosed with diabetes. We have an attitude of, "OK, I have diabetes, that's fine, here is what I can do to control it." In Gambia, however, the same types of resources are not available, so it is quite dangerous to be diagnosed with diabetes. Because of the lack of resources, diabetes is a life-threatening disease in Gambia, and after diagnosis, patients are entirely unsure of their futures. In the United States, it is much easier to get the care necessary to control diabetes, and there are more programs to help those who might not be able to afford care. Overall, US citizens are better equipped to deal with diabetes.

4. What is the most inspiring experience you have had regarding your continuing education about diabetes?
During a visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital, we were introduced to a very large baby in the neonatal department. The physicians informed us that the baby had been born the previous day and that the mother had succumbed to complications caused by diabetes. The mother had been unaware that she was suffering from diabetes and had not received any kind of care for the disease. The medical director informed us that this was not uncommon, and my heart really went out to those babies whose mothers' deaths could have been prevented. The experience made me realize that this message is extremely important because these unsuspecting victims do not have to die. Anything that can be done to make sure that these children have mothers should be done.

5. Do you plan on continuing your efforts to raise awareness after you complete your time as Miss Black USA?
Yes, definitely. From the day I was diagnosed with diabetes until there is a cure, it will be my lifelong mission to spread the word and increase education and awareness about diabetes, not just in the African American community, but all over the world. Wherever I get a chance to talk, and somebody will listen, I will be raising awareness about this serious issue.