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Columns : Investing in You - Glenn S. Ferguson Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM


Sugar!
By Glenn S. Ferguson
Nov 17, 2009 - 5:03:53 AM

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"What is always speaking silently is the body."- Norman Brown

You have heard the expression “they have sugar!” over and over again in your homes, in your churches, your schools and at almost all social gathering of Bahamians. You also know someone who has “sugar”- maybe it’s your mother or father, an aunt or uncle, a brother or sister or your cousin.




You know someone with “sugar” but what is it?
  • “Sugar” is our traditional or folk expression for the disease “Diabetes”
  • “Sugar” is the fourth leading cause of death amongst Bahamians.
  • “Sugar” is one of the leading causes for amputations in the Bahamas.
  • “Sugar” is a disease that affects the young as well as the not so young.
  • “Sugar” is a disease that is closely linked to your lifestyle and it is preventable.  
Unfortunately, because of your lifestyle and lack of understanding about this disease -  “Sugar” is on the rise.

And your “professed love” for your children is resulting in them being destined to developing poor living habits and “Sugar” very early in life. Their expensive Ipod’s, game boy’s, Nintendo’s, play stations, computers and HD-TV have lead them to become couch potatoes and overweight - more than 65 percent of Bahamians are considered obese.  

This lack of exercise coupled with poor eating habits means that you and your children are at risk much earlier for this disease. But exercise, proper eating habits and weight control can prevent obesity and lower the onset of certain types of diabetes.

November is “Diabetes Awareness month” and November 14 was “World Diabetes Day”. The Bahamas Diabetic Association has planned a number of activities to heighten awareness to this chronic disease as well as provide free testing and education material. So this is a great opportunity for you to check you and get all the information you need.

If you have diabetes, it’s a great time to refocus and recommit to your own diabetes management program. And if you do not have diabetes then it’s an opportunity to ensure that you are truly "Diabetes Aware."

You should make it your business to answer the following questions:
  • What is diabetes?
  • How can diabetes affect me?
  • How can I tell if me or others are at risk?
  • What can I do to manage this disease?
Once you know the facts about diabetes, then you are better able to take care of yourself.

Surprisingly food is one of the main factors that directly impacts blood sugar levels-and one you can control.  The more you know about nutrition, the more options you will realize you have.  And when you make healthy choices, your body will feel its best and your blood sugar is more likely to be in control.

So get the information and start checking out the foods you eat, understand the Food Pyramid, and learn to count carbohydrate, so you can begin to live a life without limits.

Here are a few tips that can get you started:
  1. Go to the events sponsored by The Bahamas Diabetic Association
  2. Limit your use of foods high in sugar, salt, white flour and fat.
  3. Know the Glycemic Index of the foods you eat.
  4. To control the ingredients and limit additives, prepare your meals from scratch when possible. You’d be surprise at how easy it is to do.
  5. Exercise- you don't have to run a daily marathon to enjoy the benefits of exercise, walking is a great way to start. Physical activity lowers blood sugar levels, and has other benefits, too, so get moving.
  6. Stay away from High Fructose Corn Syrup
Your body is yours alone and the only one you have, so treat it well or it will leave you long before you’re ready to let it go.  Start today to ensure that your body will help you enjoy the future you want!   

"Many people treat their bodies as if they were rented from Hertz -- something they are using to get around in but nothing they genuinely care about understanding." - Chungliang Al Huang

Got a question about your financial or retirement planning any question at all go ahead and just ASK GLENN  

Copyright ©  2009 - Glenn S. Ferguson

Glenn Ferguson is a financial & retirement Speaker, Coach and Syndicated Writer, helping you to painlessly take control of your money to create wealth for you and your family. Email to: glenn@financialcoachingwithglenn.com  Website: www.financialcoachingwithglenn.com  Tel: 242-327-2453   Fax: 242-327-2456

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