This is indeed the Religion Corner, so let me begin by saying, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The writings shared in this column by me, particularly the story of my family’s struggle with Type 2 diabetes, is real. It is my prayer that each reader will benefit by learning what we did not know.
Allow me to share comments made during a C-SPAN interview with Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers, a medical doctor from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, who responded to a caller during the interview who had the following question: “My mother had triggered diabetes. I don’t recall what type it was. I have a brother and sister that are 10 years older than I am. They both take insulin shots and have had difficulties with this disease. Here I am so far in my life, I’ve been disease-free of sugar diabetes. This genetic makeup — if they have the gene and I don’t, I would like to know why I succeeded in life without becoming a victim of that.”
Dr. Rodgers answered her by saying, “Our genetic makeup says a lot about what we are likely to become. You may or may not have the same risk because we have two parents and you inherit half of your genes from one parent and half from the other. It could be that, that susceptibility gene, you may have been lucky to not inherit. A lot has to do with our environment, how much we are exposed to, what we eat.”
He continued: “As it turns out, in Type 2 diabetes, our environment begins even earlier. For studies we have funded, both in our NIH Phoenix branch and other sites nationally, determine that our environment begins in utero. A mother who develops Type 2 diabetes or who has diabetes during pregnancy, the infant born to that mother when they have diabetes is more likely to develop diabetes later on in life than an infant born to that same mother who was not affected with just a small diabetes, known as gestational diabetes. There is something in our environment we are trying to understand. That’s another factor to be considered. Of course, if it runs in your family, that does put you at higher risk. It sounds like you’re doing the right thing and you are being checked periodically to determine whether you have any signs of it. A good prescription, however, is exercise and maintaining your weight at a level that your doctor approves.”
I wanted to share this very significant question and answer session, which the Holy Spirit prompted me to transcribe and share with you. As I conclude this important column on how we must fight hard to curtail this out-of-control health challenge called Type 2 diabetes, the research shows there are millions of people who have this disease now, and many more millions who don’t even know that they have it. This is a problem we must face, head-on! It is not our fault when it is in our genes — some are born with that, according to Dr. Rogers. Read his answer again and again so you will understand. This shows even more explicitly why early detection is important.
Type 2 diabetes did run in my mother’s family, but it wasn’t discussed — they did not realize that there was a need to share this history with family members. They didn’t understand what they needed to know and share or why. With me sharing with my family and also sharing with you the thousands of readers, I have taken the bull by the horns to teach as many as will hear about the way to save yourselves. This story will be told by me, for the rest of my life. Dr. Rodgers said a good prescription is one, get checked early and regularly for Type 2 diabetes; two, learn how to eat properly when you discover you are a candidate; and three, exercise and lose weight!
When you follow these simple 1-2-3 steps, you will save yourselves and your loved ones from experiencing a life filled with pain, unnecessary suffering and regrets!
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, visit her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.