I use to like Patti LaBelle, but now I love her, she is my Shero.  I was flipping through one of her cookbooks and when I read “I had diabetes, but I wasn’t going to let it have me,” I cried right there in the Barnes and Noble.  Those words struck a cord with me.  They touched a place within in me that no one else was able to reach.  My mom, husband, grandma, and close friends had shared some encouraging words, but it was something about holding that book and knowing that Patti LaBelle had reached a place that I needed to reach was inspiring.

Each day I wake up, I aspire to move closer towards positivity.  Closer to recognizing that I can overcome the feelings of devastation. Closer to knowing that it’s possible to leave this Earth with all my limbs.  Closer to knowing that diabetes does not have to be the death of me. Closer to living a LaBelle attitude! :-)

Yesterday, she was featured in an USA Today article on famous diabetics.  Their list included Patti LaBelle, Bret Micheals, Jay Cutler, Mary Tyler Moor, Nikki Lang, Nick Jonas, and Paul Sorvino.

Here is what the article stated in relation to Patti LaBelle:

(singer, author of Patti LaBelle’s Lite Cuisine) LaBelle, 66, says her diagnosis of type 2 diabetes initially gave her the blues — she thought she’d have to give up her favorite foods. She soon realized she could still eat well, just healthier. “Diabetes is not a death sentence. Sure, you can’t eat fried foods and rich desserts anymore, but there are many wonderful ways for you to cook (bake, saut, microwave, steam) delicious meals. Be more creative.”
Family and friends help keep her on track. “I have such a tremendous support group. Everyone from my housekeeper to my security guard makes sure that I do the right things and take my meds when I’m supposed to.”
Since Patti LaBelle was the only famous African American diabetic in the article, I thought that I would showcase a few others for inspiration.

So here’s a shout out to all those well-known African Americans who are not afraid to fight this chronic disease.

Patti LaBelle
Angie Stone
Anthony Anderson
Aretha Franklin
B.B. King
Della Reese
Halle Berry
J. Anthony Brown
Winnie Mandela
Dr. P