Happy 80th Birthday, Patti LaBelle!
She inspired me to create the word “Divabetic” when I saw her performing at a Luther Vandross Tribute concert in 2003. The tribute concert took place after Luther suffered a stroke related to type 2 diabetes and chronic weight cycling.
During her performance, Patti LaBelle stopped singing and admitted she was living with diabetes. She said, “I have diabetes, but diabetes doesn’t have me!”
“YASS, QUEEN!” as the kids in the Bronx like to say.
Her upbeat attitude and openness about living with diabetes resonated with me. I vowed to help others at risk, affected by, and living with diabetes to prevent diabetes-related complications by presenting diabetes education in a fun way. Although I have met her several times, I have never truly found the words to express my gratitude to her for giving my life new meaning. Thank you to everyone who has joined me on this journey, and happy birthday to the woman and icon who started it all.