Diabetes is right up there with obesity on the front line. They are battling each other to see which one win the challenge of overcoming all your efforts to hold off cardiovascular disease. I have to view the three conditions in the same context because one can be a risk factor for the other condition.

It is another silent killer, especially in the African-American community. Millions of people in the United States are walking around with or on the verge of being diagnosed with diabetes (approximately 80 million people have been diagnosed). This takes living on the edge to another level.

Diabetes, as are obesity and high blood pressure, is an easily modifiable condition that can be abated with lifestyle changes. The cost of treating diabetes is more than AIDS and all cancers. Type I diabetes is treatable. Type II diabetes, with the fastest growth rate, is preventable, treatable and also reversible. Lifestyle modification is the key.  Americans, on the average eat about 150 pounds of sugar a year!

Strategic Plan

With these facts in mind, what strategic plan do you have for Valentine Day? I don’t know about you but I’ve been eating valentine candy for the past week. My blood can become too “sweet” if I continue eating candy this week! The best alternative may be to not deprive yourself and then one day eat the entire box of chocolates.

 A more doable strategy to help you win the battle is to eat a serving of 70% cocoa, dark, high quality, decadent, semisweet or bittersweet chocolate. If you are buying chocolate, remember, all chocolate is not created equal.  Enjoy!!

American Diabetes Association

American Heart Association Nutrition Center