Neglecting Your Health Is Detrimental

A few days ago, I spoke with a friend who has a sister who is a year younger that I am.  My friend’s sister was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago and since then her health and quality of life has declined.

I share this story with you because I want you to know how important it is for you to take care of your health.

The Story

I have a good friend who has a sister who is 43 years old.  A few years ago my friend’s sister was diagnosed with diabetes.  I think the sister was diagnosed while in her late 30’s, but I am not sure of her exact age when she was diagnosed.

Since my friend’s sister learned she has diabetes, her health has declined.  Diabetes is a manageable disease, but if you neglect following the doctors orders, then all kinds of things can happen to your health.

My friend’s sister begin losing her eyesight about two years ago.  Last year, her kidneys begin declining in function and now she takes dialysis three times a week.

I never asked my friend the specific age of her sister or even what led to her going blind and needing dialysis, but after learning that she skipped dialysis, I had to ask a few questions.  I asked questions because I was baffled by how someone a year older than I am could be in such poor health and I also felt awful for her sister.

My friend told me that about two years ago, her mother found boxes of unused insulin in a closet.  The family discovered that the sister rarely took the medication prescribed to her by her doctor.

I asked my friend why her sister neglected taking her medication and she told me that her sister said she felt fine and didn’t think she needed to take the medication.

My heart sank after learning this, because she could have her eyesight today, but because of neglect and not understanding the seriousness of her condition, her health has declined and the quality of life as she once knew it is no more.

Don’t Accept that Disease Is Hereditary

I hate for someone to tell me that a certain disease is hereditary.  Believing and accepting that diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other diseases are hereditary is something you shouldn’t accept as gospel.

These diseases can be hereditary, but I believe these diseases are present mainly because of  dietary choices.  If I were to eat the foods that my parents fed me when I was growing up, then there is no doubt that I would be overweight and have many of the diseases that other relatives have today.

Always remember that a disease that is hereditary is like a loaded gun waiting to be fired.

Don’t Take Your Health For Granted

It is important that you take care of yourself and that includes your health.  There are members in my family and some of my friends who take their health for granted and they don’t care what kinds of foods they eat.

I used to be this way, because I didn’t know any other way.  When I learned better, I did better.

There is a saying that, “Your health is your wealth.” If you don’t have your health, then what do you have.  Stay on top of things and please take your health seriously, because when you don’t have it you really don’t have anything.

Final Words

I share this story about my friend’s sister because we are very close in age.  It saddens me because I know this is a woman in her early 40’s whose life is literally gone.  All because she neglected her health.

If you don’t take anything away from this story, I want you to know this:

• You are the only one who can make healthy lifestyle changes, no one can make you do it and no one can do it for you.
• You must do this for yourself and if you don’t it’s nobody’s fault but yours.

Until next time….

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