Diabetes and Blacks

The web definition of diabetes is: A chronic health condition where the body is unable to produce insulin and properly break down sugar (glucose) in the blood. Symptoms include hunger, thirst, excessive urination, dehydration and weight loss. Diabetes can cause the following health ailments (often life threatening): heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and nerve disease. Currently, 17.7% of African-Americans over 40 develop diabetes.

Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death for African-Americans aged 45 to 64 years old. These numbers have exponentially grown in the last 20 years - as obesity reaches crisis levels in the black community - the number of children, teenagers and young adults with type II diabetes mirrors this growth. Other risk factors include genetics and physical lifestyle (especially black women).

My personal experience with diabetes include several relatives including my paternal grandmother have died from diabetes complications. Before she died, my grandmother suffered blindness and lost both of her legs. My father, uncle, aunts, sister and I all have been diagnosed with type II diabetes. We all take medications, monitor our diets and exercise to help control the onset of diabetes complications.

Recommendations:

• Physical Activity - spend at least 20 to 40 minutes a day exercising at elevated heart rate four times a week (see my low impact post).
• Know your family history.
• Routinely check your blood glucose level (see your doctor).
• Monitor your diet - increase vegetables/fruits and limit fast and fried foods.

Low Impact Exercises

As stated before, from years of high impact sports, my knees are shot. Hence, low impact exercise is my way to go (be mindful I find gyms and health clubs boring). Here are my top ten favorites:

1. Volleyball
2. Walking my dog
3. Garden work
4. Bike riding
5. Hiking on steep inclines
6. Swimming
7. Yoga
8. Ab crunches
9. Stretching and back extension
10. Softball

Healing Souls

Welcome to the healing souls blog. This is my blog that will chronicle my efforts to improve my health by improving my life style. Me: I am a forty something college educated African-American male living in our nation's capital. I was born in Philadelphia and raised in Cherry Hill, NJ (suburb of Philly). From high school I lived the party life: weed, a year lost to cocaine (smoked), booze, cigarettes and the club life. Ironically, I have always consider myself an athlete. I ran track, played football (running back) and was a decent hooper for a 5'9" wanna be 6'6" forward.

Needless to say the years have taken a toll. My knees are shot, my waistline no longer 32" (try 36") and my life is far more sedentary. On the health ailment side, I take medicine for high blood pressure and diabetes type II.

I have improved my diet (limited fast foods and more fruits and veggies); weed and coke haven't been in my life for over 15 years; and, I strive to walk 10,000 steps (5.5 miles) a day. However, I can do better (think booze and cigarettes) and I must do better. Thus, my blog.

I want to reach and connect similar souls. I want to create an on-line discussion group to provide me and others with spiritual support. If you are ready to take this journey hit me up.