Randy Jackson, music industry veteran and TV personality, is coming to Raleigh to help raise awareness among the local community about type 2 diabetes and its connection to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Jackson partnered with the American Heart Association to speak on behalf of a national campaign, The Heart of Diabetes(TM), to help those living with type 2 diabetes manage the disease and reduce the risk of associated complications. More than 543,000 people in North Carolina have been diagnosed with diabetes; and according to estimates, two-thirds of them will die of CVD, such as heart attack or stroke.
"When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I thought, 'Wow, I have a serious disease,'" Jackson said. "After taking a hard look at my life choices and lifestyle habits, I knew it was time to make a change to be healthier. I am now living proof that type 2 diabetes can be managed. There isn't a magic cure for the disease, and it's not always easy, but I believe everyone has the potential to take charge and manage the disease in his or her own way in order to live a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life."
Through the campaign's Web site, IKnowDiabetes.org, Jackson shares more of his story about living with type 2 diabetes and offers tips to help manage the disease. The Web site also features Janet Puryear, a local resident of Raleigh-Durham, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes several years ago. Puryear was one of three individuals selected by the American Heart Association to appear in a public service announcement with Jackson, which aims to increase awareness about the link between type 2 diabetes and CVD, and encourage people living with the disease to work with their healthcare provider to find an appropriate treatment plan.
"Finding out that I had type 2 diabetes hit me like a ton of bricks because my father, mother, oldest brother, two aunts and six uncles passed away from complications associated with the disease," noted Puryear. "As a result, I thought being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes was a death sentence. But it isn't. My physician educated me about the roles diet and exercise play in improving my overall health and enabling me to take control over my disease. I refuse to let type 2 diabetes take another member of my family."
Puryear's advice is echoed in the tips and education information created by Jackson and the American Heart Association to help those living with type 2 diabetes successfully control the disease.
According to Michael S. Cuffe, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Duke University Health System, "People living with type 2 diabetes often need a comprehensive solution that involves appropriate lifestyle changes and proper medication management. "The Heart of Diabetes campaign encourages them to get regular physical activity and eat a healthy diet to help prevent the associated cardiovascular risks common in people living with the disease."
