The Truth About Diabetes

Well ladies, I have to get on your cases about something very important. Do you know your BMI (Body mass index)? If you don’t, you should. I know we don’t frequent the scales because we feel we just look too good to be concerned, but the truth of the matter is women with curves (yes, us) are more prone to obesity. Obesity is having a BMI of 30+. To calculate, I believe it’s your weight in kilograms divided by your height in inches. Follow closely because this might get a little intense: obesity causes 90% of all type 2 diabetes mellitus cases.

Diabetes is the rejection of insulin, which is necessary for transforming body cells into glucose (your energy source). 50% of Black and Hispanic women (yes, even you KabQueen) will develop type 2 diabetes mellitus in their lifetime. The scary part is it is affecting us a lot younger than in previous decades. There has been an extreme rise in obesity and diabetes cases in children and adolescents. And the scary truth is that though we are no longer children and some of us have not had the pleasure of having children at this time, children with diabetes grow up. If you’re not worried yet, let me not forget to mention that type 2 diabetes can be caught during any age of your life.

Though type 2 diabetes is both preventable and treatable (e.g., eating healthily and working out regularly), there is no cure. Look out for high blood pressure and cholesterol as signs of the disease. And if anyone in your family has diabetes, you should get checked because type 1 diabetes is hereditary. On a lighter note, let this serve as a wake up call to pay more attention to your health and body. Make your way over to a Weight Watchers meeting followed by a little WiiFit just to be on the safe side. And please get screened for the disease; better safe than sorry. (You can find further information at the American Diabetes Association)
laugh, LIVE, love,

JM