Earlier this month, I had participated in a Health Fair for the first time and it was AWESOME!!!!

I had an opportunity to talk to a lot of people, primarily older black women, about diabetes. This experience was so encouraging and fulfilling because it reassured me that I am doing the right thing by providing information to others. I had so much fun talking about diabetes in a common language. They could talk about sugar diabetes, hog maws, bacon, biscuits, and driblet gravy without fear of being misunderstood or judged. We shared testimonies about how God saved us and how He continues to watch over us. We spoke fluently at the intersection of our physical health and our spiritual well-being.

The Health Fair experience was communal. I was able to share my knowledge from a personal experience as well as direct them to the medical personnel at other tables who could check their glucose and provide other medical services. I’d like to think that by being able to talk about their experiences with me they were more open with their primary care physicians.

I spent more time listening, encouraging, and writing down lists of questions/statements that these women should discuss with their doctors than I did anything else and it was GREAT! So many of us deal with the daily struggle of caring for diabetes alone or in silence.

I’m looking forward to attending another health fair.