| Randy Jackson, famous for being a judge on | | | | There are about 86,000 diabetes-related |
| American Idol and for producing such artists as | | | | amputations annually in the United States, |
| Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, found out | | | | according to the Johns Hopkins Hospital. The |
| that he had type 2 diabetes in 2001. At the time, | | | | number one killer of type 2 diabetics is heart |
| he was 45 years old and weighed 360 lbs. "I was | | | | disease. |
| in the worst shape of my life," recalls Jackson. For | | | | An estimated 20.Eight million Americans now have |
| weeks, Randy had been feeling tired, thirsty, and | | | | diabetes. Only five to ten percent of those have |
| overheated. His father was diabetic and took | | | | type 1. Of those, doctors estimate 6.2 million |
| insulin shots, but Jackson put off a trip to the | | | | haven't been diagnosed. Another 54 million |
| doctor, thinking that he just had a cold instead. | | | | Americans have "prediabetic" elevated |
| Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of | | | | blood-glucose levels. (Check out your own risk by |
| diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body either does | | | | taking the test at diabetes.org.) |
| not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the | | | | When Randy Jackson was diagnosed with |
| insulin. | | | | diabetes, he had gastric bypass surgery and lost |
| "I was feeling really ill over a couple days, thought | | | | 110 lbs. |
| I had a cold, was running a high fever. I finally | | | | "It really helped to get the disease to a |
| went to the doctor and they said, 'Guess what? | | | | manageable level for me so I could just go on |
| You have type 2 diabetes.' It ran in my family | | | | medication," Jackson said. |
| and all this, so it was a little hereditary for me, | | | | Jackson is now the spokesperson for the |
| but also it was not healthy living, eating, anything, | | | | American Heart association's campaign. He is |
| exercise that I was doing, and I was really heavy | | | | hoping that he can raise awareness because he |
| at that time," says Jackson. | | | | says that a third of the people who have the |
| "You don't think it's going to happen to you," he | | | | disease do not even know it. |
| said. | | | | Here are some tips from Randy Jackson on how |
| If you are overweight, it doesn't necessarily mean | | | | to deal with type 2 diabetes: - Keep active and |
| you will become a diabetic. However, being obese | | | | maintain a healthy lifestyle with a healthy body |
| and not exercizing can contribute to the | | | | weight. |
| development of type 2 diabetes.. Diabetics either | | | | "I learned to love the treadmill," Randy admits. "I |
| produce too little insulin or their cells ignore it, a | | | | hated it before, but I really love it because of my |
| condition called "insulin resistance." Insulin takes | | | | busy lifestyle. It's something I can always do, |
| glucose, broken down from the sugars and | | | | jump on the treadmill for 45 minutes." - Go to the |
| starches we eat, from the blood into the cells. | | | | doctor. |
| Glucose simply builds up in the blood instead of | | | | "Definitely consult your doctor and have regular |
| feeding the cells energy without it. | | | | visits," Jackson said. "Men are really bad about |
| Most diabetics develop a resistance to insulin as | | | | going to the doctor. You should go about four |
| adults. This makes type 2 diabetes the more | | | | times a year at least. And normalize your blood |
| common of the two different types. Doctors still | | | | sugar. Check it all the time and try to eat a |
| don't understand why diabetics' cells are no longer | | | | balanced diet." |
| able to use insulin properly. | | | | Jackson says he was an emotional eater and, |
| The pancreas gradually becomes unable to | | | | especially coming from the South where fattening |
| produce more insulin as the need grows. The | | | | comfort food abounds, it was difficult for him to |
| immediate effects are fatigue and dizziness, but | | | | change his habits. |
| over time high blood-glucose levels can cause | | | | "It's trying to get sensible about that. Moderation |
| damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart. | | | | is the key to dieting. Too much of anything is |
| Without proper care, diabetics are at risk for | | | | going to be terrible for you," he said. |
| heart attacks, blindness and foot amputations. | | | | |