Kiran, United States
My father has diabetes (type 2). My grandmother had diabetes. My mother has had bouts with high blood sugar. Diabetes and South Asians are linked so often, I sometimes forget a diagnosis doesn’t have to feel inevitable. The fact that South Asians are also more genetically predisposed to diabetes makes the prevention message that much harder to hear. As I’ve grown older, I have finally started to feel more in control of my future health – recognizing I can take control by maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise. And I understand I may need to monitor my levels more often than others and be more rigorous with my diet. In the last fifteen years, I’ve watched my father learn how to manage his diabetes; I’ve been overwhelmed with all of the health complications he’s faced as a result of his diabetes; but most importantly, I’ve been amazed at how well he’s controlled his diet (though we are still working on the regular exercise part). I am also so grateful he has the access to the medicines he needs daily to function. As a child health advocate and South Asian, I hope young girls and boys who have also lived through their parents' illnesses, recognize there are ways strategies to either prevent or manage diabetes in their own lives. Beyond access to care and knowledge about diabetes, individuals (young and old) need to hear stories of others to recognize support (through family, local, and on-line communities) is available!