Many people consider Type 2 diabetes to be the ‘Rodney Dangerfield’ of chronic conditions because it’s gets little to no respect from the general public.

Although Type 2 diabetes can wreak havoc from head to toe with health-related complications such as kidney disease, stroke, blindness and amputation, it isn’t considered as serious a health threat as cancer or heart disease, according to results from a recent American Diabetes Association focus group.

This lack of concern is particularly worrisome, considering the condition now affects Americans in record numbers : 24 million people have it, and another 57 million have prediabetes .

Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her insights about this issue in her poem, “A Little Respect”, written specifically for Diabetes Late Nite.

A LITTLE RESPECT by Lorraine Brooks

Look at me.

Look at the pain

In my eyes.

All that you see

Is my

Overweight size.

Inside is a person

Who needs to

Be heard.

Needs to let go of

The hurt

I’ve incurred.

I’m not uninformed

And I’m not unaware.

I am not lazy

And yes, I DO care.

I haven’t abandoned

My health or my needs.

I’ve just redefined

What it means

To Succeed.

I am not here

To live up to your charts

Or conform to your standards

For my body parts.

It’s not called depression

It doesn’t need meds

I won’t go to blazes and

I won’t drop dead.

I don’t have the answer

To all of life’s queries,

I don’t want to hear about

All of your theories.

Just treat me with value

As part of the clan

And do not compare me to those

Smaller than.

Look at me

Look at the smile

I reflect

And treat me with love

And a little

Respect.

Speaking about ‘Respect’, the Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin said, “I have diabetes, really, from years ago when I was really badly and grossly overweight. Now, I’m back to my natural size and thrilled about it.”

Aretha has struggled with her weight throughout her life, underwent surgery in 2010 for an undisclosed ailment. After being hospitalized, Aretha completely changed her lifestyle and lost 85 lbs. in 2012.

Diabetes Late Nite with music by A Tribe Called Quest LISTEN: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2016/06/14/diabetes-late-nite-inspired-by-a-tribe-called-quest

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