FEATUREDSTORY
Diabetes
DISPARITY FEATURED THIS QUARTER
A FIRM PARTNERSHIP
by Vanessa Baldwin
Everyone loves a good laugh. And there’s no better way to get a good laugh than to tune into Tyler Perry’s hit television series, Meet the Browns. The antics of Leroy Brown and Cora Simmons hits home for a lot of us in many ways, but in real life, David Mann, who plays Leroy Brown and his wife, Tamela Mann, who plays Cora Simmons on the show have had to readjust their off screen lives in order to deal with the news of David being diagnosed with Diabetes.
When David found out he had diabetes it was a shock to he and his wife and it was completely unexpected news. Like so many who are diagnosed with diabetes, the challenges of having to make lifestyle changes can be difficult. David and Tamela have managed to find balance in making the necessary changes in their lives and in their family’s lives. And for support and strength they rely on one another.
“We both lean on each other a lot. When I am weak Tamela is strong and when she is weak I am strong.” David explained.
Tamela, who has made some personal decisions in the area of weight loss and has been successful at it, attributes her wt loss to a lot of hard work and faith to get the results she wanted. She adds, “As a family we all worked together to cut down on sugar and starches and we really watch our portions.”
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects men, women and children of all ages. Type 1 diabetes is where the body no longer makes insulin. Type II diabetes, which is more common in adults, occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or the body does not use the insulin correctly. In either case, blood sugar levels are too high and can cause long term damage to the heart, kidneys, nerves, eyes and feet. Type II diabetes affects more African Americans than any other racial group in the U.S. And 1 in 4 African American women are more likely to develop the disease.
David found help with his diabetes by working with The American Diabetic Association. He found the latest information needed to help him fight diabetes. While risk factors like age, race and family history cannot be changed there are some risk factors you can change such as weight, diet and exercise.
David and Tamela Mann have been married for over 20 years and during this time they have learned what it takes to make a marriage work. Tamela advises women who are looking for the perfect husband,
“When you find that perfect husband he is no longer perfect because he is no longer perfect because he is getting an imperfect you. We should not look for someone perfect but someone who is consistent. Love and consistency will cover it all.”
David and Tamela Mann
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