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Randy Jackson was a guest on the Early Show yesterday and he talked about his personal battle with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes affect millions of Americans (including my grandmother) and is related to obesity. Here is the story:
Randy Jackson is famous for being a Grammy-winning musician and the cool judge on “American Idol,” but he is also the spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s The Heart of Diabetes campaign.
Jackson, who is one of 21 million Americans suffering from diabetes, is looking for people who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
About five of years ago, Jackson weighed 355 pounds and started feeling rundown.
“I was feeling really ill over a couple days, thought I had a cold, was running a high fever,” he told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. “I finally went to the doctor and they said, ‘Guess what? You have type 2 diabetes.’ It ran in my family and all this, so it was a little hereditary for me, but also it was not healthy living, eating, anything, exercise that I was doing, and I was really heavy at that time.”
The diabetes diagnosis lead to Jackson having gastric bypass surgery and he has lost 110 pounds since.
“It really helped to get the disease to a manageable level for me so I could just go on medication,” he said.
Jackson was lucky that he received a diagnosis in time for him to develop a healthy lifestyle. Now that he is the spokesperson for the American Heart association’s campaign, he is hoping to raise awareness because he says that 1/3 of the people who have the disease don’t know it.
Jackson offered some tips for people to prevent diabetes and stay healthy if they develop it.
- Keep active and maintain a healthy body weight.
“I learned to love the treadmill,” he said. “I hated it before, but I really love it because of my busy lifestyle. It’s something I can always do, jump on the treadmill for 45 minutes.”
- Go to the doctor.
“Definitely consult your doctor and have regular visits,” Jackson said. “Men are really bad about going to the doctor. You should go about four times a year at least. And normalize your blood sugar. Check it all the time and try to eat a balanced diet.”
Jackson says he was an emotional eater and, especially coming from the South where fattening comfort food abounds, it was difficult for him to change his habits.
“It’s trying to get sensible about that. In diet, I think moderation is the key. Too much of anything is going to be terrible for you,” he said.
For more information, go to Iknowdiabetes.org.
Tags: randy jackson, diabetes, early show, randy jackson diabetes, randy jackson weight
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[...] Jeanne wrote a fantastic post today on “Randy Jacksonâ
Unable to find contact info for Randy. I’m a dietitian that is preaching change in paradigm for posterity. Only selfish reason is to have “He made a difference to humanity” on his toombstone. I know what the probelm is to addressing the diabetes epidemic. It’s called prevention! Unfortunately, the powers that be prevent prevention from being the driving force behind controlling this epidemic.
Mr. Jackson. This is probably a long shot, my fiance died from a massive heart attack in her sleep at age 31, leaving me with our then one yr. old son. Michelle had type 2 diabetis. Would love hearing from you, am forming a diabetic foundation like none other you have ever seen. Please contact me…Mike
Jeanne: Maybe you can help me. I take it you have wrote articles about Randy Jackson. I am trying to find some contact information on him to see if he would be interested in getting involved in the diabetic foundation we are forming. Are if anyone reading this knows how to contact Mr. Jackson please e-mail me at automike1099@yahoo.com. Thanks..Mike
My 44 year old sister needs a kidney-pancreas transplant because of her Type 2 diabetes she has had since age 20. She is going down hill fast, we pray the transplant comes soon. She is just starting dialysis. She and her husband lost their 19 year old daughter just over 2 years ago. They have two boys ages 8 & 12. Struggling financially because of the medical costs. We are planning a fundraiser in our city of 40,000 about 30 miles north of Milwaukee WI. If there was any way to get Randy Jackson to attend I know it would make the ultimate fundraiser for her as well as leave a great impact and awareness about diabetes in our community.
Ok, I will come back down to reality….it was wishful thinking, but Randy @ our fundraiser….
im reza samiee– im prober tisane and have some discover for diabetes – ilove michael jackson and his family but herein iran icant recive his voice- i wish i was in his dead memorial – i like to be in his grave-please send me an e mail–many thanks