| INTRODUCTIONIt is my pleasure to introduce to | | | | thus eliminating all of the colon cancer, |
| you, a new Diabetes Prevention Education, | | | | they eliminated the toxins from their bodies |
| Public Relations Campaign established under | | | | through sweat and perspiration. They may |
| the name Fannie Estelle Hill Grant, started | | | | have been tired, but they had healthy bodies. |
| by me, Lyndia Grant-Briggs, after the loss of | | | | So all of these diseases that are out of |
| my mother who succumbed to Type 2 Diabetes on | | | | control today, like Diabetes came along later |
| Christmas Day, December 25, 2000. I noticed | | | | due to the many lifestyle changes of |
| a fire burning in the Diabetes health arena, | | | | Americans.Let us all learn a very important |
| and it is still burning out of control. The | | | | lesson from this bit of history: According |
| diabetes prevention and education public | | | | to all legislations and laws today, African |
| relations campaign was started in an effort, | | | | Americans can Be whatever they want to be, |
| to "Fan the Flames", and put out the | | | | they can Do whatever they are capable of |
| fire.Fannie Grant was 73 years old, a | | | | doing, and they can Have whatever they can |
| homemaker, who loved her family very much, | | | | manage to work hard enough to achieve. We |
| and she believed in preparing wonderful | | | | know that this is a true statement, when you |
| home-cooked meals for the family. You name | | | | look around and you see such role models as |
| it, and we had it. We would have desserts | | | | Oprah Winfrey, the queen of talk shows, Bill |
| any day of the week. Mama enjoyed cooking, | | | | Cosby, Michael Jordan, we have had several |
| cleaning and washing clothes, and although | | | | black Miss America's, including the current |
| she raised nine children of her own, she | | | | reigning queen, we have Tiger Woods, the best |
| always had room for other needy children.In | | | | golfer of all times and The Williams Sisters, |
| our early years, from 1945-1965, Mother was | | | | who have broken all records. The list goes |
| the wife of a sharecropper in North Carolina, | | | | on and on. Today, we live in fabulous homes; |
| but they moved the family to Washington, D.C. | | | | our children can now go to college, (sidebar: |
| in 1965. So for more than 30 years, Mother | | | | yet we have more African American men in |
| Grant, our father and all of us children | | | | prison today, over 900,000 than we have in |
| called the Washington Metropolitan Area | | | | college today, only 600,000, that's another |
| home.Our family learned that Mother had Type | | | | article.)The trouble with this whole thing |
| 2 Diabetes after a major stroke she had back | | | | is, African Americans continue to enjoy many |
| in 1988-89. She lived 11-12 years after the | | | | of the delicious foods handed down to us by |
| diagnosis. Lyndia and her Sisters, (The | | | | our ancestors, our diets haven't changed very |
| Grant Sisters) pledged to begin the | | | | much, but we've forgotten one very important |
| educational prevention campaign while they | | | | ingredient, our ancestors worked 12-16 hour |
| visited with and/or cared for their mother | | | | days, performing physical labor. They |
| during her last year of life.After moving | | | | received the necessary exercise daily, |
| back home to North Carolina, Mother Grant | | | | therefore, they didn't get sick with |
| enjoyed her latter years in a very peaceful | | | | diabetes, and all of the fat was burned off |
| way. Us children purchased her a new home, | | | | in blood, sweat and tears.Today, in order for |
| took over all of the mortgage payments, and | | | | us to get proper exercise, we must plan to |
| she was happy. Mother Grant enjoyed living | | | | have physical exercise at least 30 minutes |
| on this wonderful 227-acre farm, near | | | | daily, one-hour is preferable, but no less |
| Kinston, North Carolina. She was one of the | | | | than 30 minutes. That's not a lot, compared |
| heirs to this wonderful farm left to her | | | | to the amount of time our forefathers worked, |
| family by their father, and my grandfather, | | | | but according to studies done by the National |
| Floyd Hill.She enjoyed walking around the | | | | Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney |
| farm, following my father, Bishop Benjamin | | | | Diseases, the little time we manage to put |
| Grant, around the garden as he worked. She | | | | in, while exercising for 30 minutes, 3-4 days |
| enjoyed shopping with her sisters going to | | | | week can prevent the occurrence of |
| yard sales. Shopping gave her considerable | | | | Diabetes.Today, we continue in the tradition |
| joy near the end of her life.Mother suffered | | | | of eating our "soul food" diets, very much |
| numerous strokes, seven to ten to be | | | | the same as we did 200 years ago, except |
| specific. During one stoke, she lost the use | | | | today, most of us don't use lard, and we can |
| of her tongue and couldn't speak at all. | | | | eat all we want. We've graduated to |
| Mother Fannie's kidney failed, she was | | | | vegetable oils like Crisco and other |
| receiving kidney dialysis for the last two | | | | vegetable oils. (Olive Oils are better for |
| years of her life, she had high blood | | | | us, less cholesterol). Families today still |
| pressure for many years, and both of her legs | | | | enjoy foods, which include far too many |
| were amputated above her knees.The ProblemWe | | | | carbohydrates like macaroni and cheese, |
| wanted to know more about the disease that | | | | desserts, and lots of bread. We have enjoyed |
| took our mother in such a brutal fashion. | | | | these foods for hundreds of years, but now, |
| There was so much pain and suffering prior to | | | | we sit at computers, walk out to our cars, |
| her death. Mother Grant was a Christian, she | | | | drive everywhere, including to the grocery |
| was an Evangelist who preached the gospel in | | | | stores, we don't have to walk to school for |
| churches throughout the Washington D.C. Area, | | | | miles any longer, we can ride the school |
| and everyone loved her and called her Ma.Our | | | | buses, and exercise has all but been |
| mother was very special, and as her oldest | | | | eliminated. America is overwhelmingly FAT, |
| daughter, I promised to carry out a public | | | | even our children in many cases are |
| awareness campaign, to educate millions of | | | | overweight and/or obese.It's a simple |
| people regarding the causes and preventions | | | | problem, bad diets that includes too much |
| of Type 2 Diabetes. In educating the general | | | | junk food from fast food restaurants, and a |
| public, I feel a lot better, because my | | | | lack of strenuous exercise. How many times |
| mother's living shall not be in vain. My | | | | have you pigged out, after a hard day, then, |
| sisters and I have been blessed over the past | | | | you fell asleep? That food is fattening you |
| 20 years, we've had lots of success in | | | | up, just the way that it does for newborn |
| publicizing several major events, we | | | | babies. Remember how babies eat and sleep, |
| coordinated a major festival, called Georgia | | | | and soon, you notice their little legs |
| Avenue Day in Washington, D.C. The festival | | | | beginning to get a little meat on their |
| and parade attracted more than 200,000 | | | | bones. But you can almost look at them grow |
| people, major corporate sponsors and | | | | and gain weight. But they are still babies, |
| celebrities. We worked for two Presidential | | | | and that's what they need, nutrition to |
| Inaugural Committees, one was for the | | | | grow.For adults though, it's a different |
| Republicans, George Herbert Walker Bush and | | | | story, we have already grown up, and all we |
| for other for the Democrats, President Bill | | | | can do now is grow OUT!!! We just keep |
| Clinton, for two D.C. Mayors, Marion Barry | | | | getting BIGGER and BIGGER and BIGGER! We |
| and Sharon Pratt Kelly, and three D.C. City | | | | look bad to ourselves and to others, we can't |
| Councilmembers, Charlene Drew Jarvis, Frank | | | | fit into our nice clothing, we have to keep |
| Smith and Eyde Whittington. Another major | | | | buying fat clothes. And worst of all, our |
| achievement was an appointment that I | | | | hearts cannot stand this, and neither can the |
| received as project director by Councilman | | | | rest of our organs. (I give a speech |
| Frank Smith, to erect the Spirit of Freedom | | | | entitled "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" - |
| Memorial, a new national African American | | | | How to have a healthy mind, body & spirit). |
| Civil War Memorial located in Washington, | | | | It's no wonder that our starvation genes are |
| D.C. This monument pays tribute to 209,145 | | | | reacting the way that they have, this |
| United States Colored Troops who fought in | | | | so-called "thrifty gene" that is found in |
| the American Civil War.As you can see, Mother | | | | African Americans seems to store even more of |
| Grant passed down some strong self-worth | | | | this foreign food that we continue to ingest |
| values. She taught us that we can do | | | | into our bodies. We came from strong, lean |
| anything that we want, and that we can be the | | | | backgrounds, Africa has never been a "fat" |
| best at whatever we choose. The business of | | | | nation, but as African Americans, we have |
| public relations is "in my blood." There was | | | | Americanized our bodies so badly, that our |
| no way that I could see the devastation | | | | health problems are out-of-control!If you |
| caused by Diabetes and understand this | | | | take a look at the stats provided by the |
| disease, and do nothing about it. I wanted | | | | National Institute of Health, Today, diabetes |
| to know "what happened to Mother, how did | | | | mellitus is one of the most serious health |
| this happen, could we have done something | | | | challenges facing the United States. The |
| differently, if only we had known that an | | | | following statistics illustrate the magnitude |
| improved diet and regular physical exercise | | | | of this disease among African Americans.2.8 |
| could have made a difference."I know that | | | | million African Americans have diabetes.On |
| I've been chosen to get the word out | | | | average, African Americans are twice as |
| regarding this disease that's burning "out of | | | | likely to have diabetes as white Americans of |
| control" in the African American community. | | | | similar age.Approximately 13 percent of all |
| It has been extremely hard to continue to | | | | African Americans have diabetes.African |
| live without our Mother, but in sharing this | | | | Americans with diabetes are more likely to |
| information with others, it gives me some | | | | develop diabetes complications and experience |
| relief from my grief.So, what exactly is | | | | greater disability from the complications |
| Diabetes? Diabetes mellitus is a group of | | | | than white Americans with diabetes.Death |
| diseases characterized by high levels of | | | | rates for people with diabetes are 27 percent |
| blood glucose. It results from defects in | | | | higher for African Americans compared with |
| insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. | | | | whitesNational health surveys during the past |
| Diabetes can be associated with serious | | | | 35 years show that the percentage of the |
| complications and premature death, but people | | | | African American population that has been |
| with diabetes can take measures to reduce the | | | | diagnosed with diabetes is increasing |
| likelihood of such, according to recent | | | | dramatically. The surveys in 1976-80 and in |
| studies found by the National Institute of | | | | 1988-94 measured fasting plasma glucose and |
| Health. Some researchers believe that | | | | thus allowed an assessment of the prevalence |
| African Americans, (Hispanic Americans, Asian | | | | of undiagnosed diabetes as well as of |
| Americans, and Pacific Islanders were also | | | | previously diagnosed diabetes. In 1976-80, |
| included in the study) inherited a "thrifty | | | | total diabetes prevalence in African |
| gene" from their African ancestors. Years | | | | Americans ages 40 to 74 years was 8.9 |
| ago, this gene enabled Africans, during | | | | percent; in 1988-94, total prevalence had |
| "feast and famine" cycles, to use food energy | | | | increased to 18.2 percent--a doubling of the |
| more efficiently when food was scarce. Today, | | | | rate in just 12 years.Prevalence in African |
| with fewer such cycles, the thrifty gene that | | | | Americans is much higher than in white |
| developed for survival may instead make the | | | | Americans. Among those ages 40 to 74 years in |
| person more susceptible to developing type 2 | | | | the 1988-94 survey, the rate was 11.2 percent |
| diabetes.The problem dates back to the | | | | for whites, but was 18.2 percent for African |
| beginning of the slave trade, documented as | | | | AmericansRegular physical activity is a |
| beginning in 1790, and for those enslaved | | | | protective factor against type 2 diabetes |
| ones, food was still scarce, thus the | | | | and, conversely, lack of physical activity is |
| "thrifty genes" protected them. If you | | | | a risk factor for developing diabetes. |
| research the documentations found on record | | | | Researchers suspect that a lack of exercise |
| at the National Archives and Records | | | | is one factor contributing to the high rates |
| Administration, slaves received rations. It | | | | of diabetes in African Americans. In the |
| really doesn't matter what the diets were of | | | | NHANES III survey, 50 percent of African |
| African people hundreds of years ago, as they | | | | American men and 67 percent of African |
| roamed around freely on the African | | | | American women reported that they |
| continent, in townships like Johannesburg, | | | | participated in little or no leisure time |
| Freetown, Rwanda, Sudan, South African and | | | | physical activity.ConclusionIn furthering the |
| Sierre Leone. What does matter is the fact | | | | causes of this Diabetes Educational |
| that those Africans who managed to survive | | | | Prevention Campaign, the first order of |
| the slave trade here in America, arrived on | | | | business has been to make my very own |
| the shores very strong. The majority of them | | | | Lifestyle Change. My Mother was buried on |
| worked in the fields from sun-up to sundown, | | | | December 30th, 2000. When I returned home to |
| six days per week, and in many cases, seven | | | | Silver Spring, Maryland, it took a few months |
| days/week. Slaves ate scraps, like hog | | | | before I could go on, the grief period was |
| mauls, chitterlings, pigtails, pig feet, pig | | | | extremely hard, but the first order of |
| ears, and they drank milk from a trough along | | | | business, was to begin a regular exercise |
| side other animals.African people became | | | | routine. Walking became my exercise of |
| Americanized, they were no longer in their | | | | choice -- two to four miles three to four |
| homeland, so to live, they had to eat | | | | days each week. Some weeks I walked, and |
| whatever was made available to them, they | | | | continue to walk, five days, even six days a |
| were fed last, after the horses and the pigs | | | | week, and recently, I've added "walking up |
| had been taken care of, whatever was left was | | | | and down the stairs in five minute |
| given to those enslaved people -- scraps, | | | | increments, for 12-15 minutes. There is an |
| left-overs, garbage. In an effort to create | | | | extreme difference in the way that I look and |
| a delicious meal, the women worked at | | | | feel. The pounds and inches have been |
| creating recipes that they could all enjoy. | | | | steadily coming off.I've changed my diet. I'm |
| They loved collard greens with fat back meat, | | | | now drinking green mineral drinks each |
| and learned to bake sweet potato pies, | | | | morning, (you can buy green drinks at organic |
| cleaned chitterlings and made them into a | | | | stores); and I'm no longer eating white |
| delicacy to be eaten on special occasions. | | | | bread. In fact I don't eat very much bread |
| They made pots of beans seasoned with ham | | | | at all, but when I do, it is whole grain or |
| hocks, or pigtails, and they seasoned with | | | | wheat bread, brown rice, more fresh fruits |
| pork.They made home-made biscuits from | | | | and green leafy vegetables. I enjoy using my |
| self-rising, white flour and lard, and they | | | | juice machine for fresh green spinach and |
| learned to make hush puppies, candied yams, | | | | carrot drinks.Recently, I found myself with |
| lots of potatoes, and they ate plenty corn | | | | excellent health results from my physical |
| bread, so even until this day, African people | | | | examination. My cholesterol level was low, |
| who became African Americans beginning in the | | | | at 126, and my glucose levels were average. |
| late 1700's, had a very different diet than | | | | My blood pressure was 120/80, which is fine |
| Euro-Americans. Even though this wasn't a | | | | for me, and I feel wonderful too. There is |
| "good" and "healthy" diet for the slaves, | | | | one area that I'm still working on, and that |
| they ate it, they enjoyed it, and they were | | | | is my Ideal Body Mass, IBM. I'm still |
| able to sustain themselves easily. They | | | | overweight, but I've lost 30 lbs., and still |
| worked so very hard in the fields 12-16 hours | | | | counting.If you are reading this article, and |
| a day. But of course, since they had the | | | | you're at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, consider |
| so-called "thrifty genes" which allowed their | | | | making a major Lifestyle Change. It's very |
| bodies to preserve food in an appropriate | | | | simple: 1-Change your diet, eliminate most |
| manner, when food was scarce, seems that was | | | | of the carbohydrates from your diet; |
| probably a good thing, since the enslaved | | | | 2-Exercise regularly for the rest of your |
| didn't always have ample food supplies.There | | | | life, and 3-Get rid of the extra pounds, work |
| is a bright side to this though, as they | | | | toward maintaining your ideal body weight. |
| worked, they were receiving strenuous daily | | | | If you make this promise to yourself, to |
| exercise, which kept them healthy. It really | | | | change your life, you will be "Fanning the |
| didn't matter what the slaves ate, because | | | | Flames of the Diabetes Epidemic in America," |
| what they ate, in today's standard would have | | | | and soon the fire will be put out, but it |
| fattened them too, but it didn't, because | | | | will take millions of people to join this |
| they burned it off every day out in the | | | | fight. Won't you begin today? You don't |
| fields working. It was a vicious cycle. They | | | | have to get Diabetes, it can be prevented, |
| ate, and they worked off the carbohydrates. | | | | you don't have to lose one limb to this |
| They ate and they worked off more | | | | vicious disease, nor do you have to lose your |
| carbohydrates, and they didn't die from | | | | kidney. Change your life, and enjoy your |
| diseases back then, as they do today, | | | | Thanksgiving Dinner - with all of the |
| diabetes or cancer, and don't think that | | | | trimmings, but the next day, get back to the |
| their bowels didn't move regularly as well, | | | | business of getting fit and staying healthy. |