(BlackDoctor.org) — 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.
Forget what works for your neighbor
The differences between Jackson’s first season on American Idol and this year are night and day. In 2002, Jackson weighed more than 300 pounds. He never worked out, he partied hard, and he still ate foods rich in fat and sugar that were part of his Louisiana upbringing.
Now, the 210-pound Jackson, who’s worked on more than 1,000 gold or platinum albums, is more likely to nosh on a Gala apple than apple pie and never misses a day on his treadmill.
“It was hard to get a handle on managing my diabetes,” Jackson tells Health.com. “It took me about a year and a half to get it down to a science. I also dropped a ton of weight.”
Jackson got an assist on weight loss with gastric bypass surgery, but his success managing his disease was all homegrown. He checks his blood sugar three times a day, eats healthy, and gets plenty of exercise.
His secret? “Find out what’s going to really work for you. Forget about what works for your neighbor. Find out what works for you and if it will fit into your lifestyle. That’s the thing you’ll probably do the longest.”
Committing to diet and exercise every day
American Idol’s Randy Jackson On Diabetes was originally published on blackdoctor.org
