November is American Diabetes Month, and readers, we need to have a real heart-to-heart about a condition that is sitting right at the kitchen tables of almost every family in our community. If you or someone you love has just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I know exactly how your heart might be sinking. It brings up fear, worry and a whole lot of isolation. But I am here to tell you today, with all the love in my heart: A diagnosis is not a death sentence. It is just a divine wake-up call to start treating the precious temple God gave you with a little more tender loving care. You can absolutely live an abundant, joyful and vibrant life while managing this condition. As the great Arthur Ashe once said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Now, let’s look at the facts together, because we have to know what we’re up against. The research shows that our community is bearing a heavy burden. According to the CDC, Black adults experience higher rates of diagnosed diabetes than white adults. Even worse, we face much higher rates of serious complications, such as kidney disease and vision loss. But don’t you dare let those numbers make you feel defeated! This isn’t because of who you are or a failure on your part. A lot of it comes down to systemic hurdles, like not having easy access to affordable, fresh groceries or good preventive care in our neighborhoods. Knowing this is empowering. It means we have the power to change the narrative. Scripture tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” We can tackle this with a sound mind and total authority.
Every time November rolls around, my mind travels straight back home to my beautiful mother, Fannie Estelle Grant. She was the absolute rock of our family, full of love and Southern grace. But on Christmas Day in 2000, the Lord called her home to eternity. Losing her left a deep ache in my soul that never truly goes away. It is strictly in her sweet memory that I have dedicated my ministry to hosting community health fairs. I know the heartbreak of losing a matriarch too soon. I don’t want another daughter or son to feel that pain if we can help it. Taking care of your health is a beautiful act of love for the ones who came before us and a gift to the children coming after us.
If you are ready to claim your healing and live your best life, here are the top five things you need to do to stay healthy:
1. Get Your Body Moving
You don’t need a fancy gym membership; just a nice, brisk 30-minute walk down the road after supper or putting on some good gospel music and dancing right in your living room can do wonders to help manage your blood sugar. Find joy in moving every single day. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
2. Watch What’s on Your Plate
Living your best life doesn’t mean you have to stop eating good food! It’s all about modification. Try filling half your plate with green vegetables, a quarter with clean protein, and just a small corner with your favorite complex carbs like sweet potatoes. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us plain as day: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you … therefore glorify God in your body.”
3. Build a Team That Has Your Back
Please don’t travel down this road alone. Be the boss of your own health. Get yourself a primary care doctor and a diabetes specialist who truly care about you. A friend you can call for help is important, too. Keep tabs on your A1C numbers and get your eyes checked. Proverbs 11:14 says, “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
4. Protect Your Peace
Stress can affect your blood sugar, so it’s important to find healthy ways to manage it. Guard your mind with daily prayer, deep breaths and a sisterhood of friends who lift you up. Lean on Isaiah 40:29: “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”
5. Get Some Good Rest
A tired body needs rest to stay healthy. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep a night, and stay on top of checking your blood sugar according to your health care provider’s recommendations.
Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Let’s change our habits together this November. Take care of your temple, think on these things, and may God bless you with long life and vibrant health!
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, go to her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on X @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
