(NewsUSA) - Taking ownership of your heart health by monitoring some basic health numbers can contribute to a longer, healthier life. Paying attention to blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight are important for everyone, but especially for individuals living with diabetes, who are twice as likely to develop and die from heart disease, strokes or heart failure.

Type 2 diabetes is also a risk factor for severe complications from COVID-19, so it is more important than ever for people living with diabetes to be aware of critical numbers and keep their diabetes well managed.

Diabetes management is especially essential for Hispanic/Latino Americans, who have a 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes and suffering devastating complications from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"My message for others living with diabetes is that we have control and choices," says Lupe Barraza, who lives with type 2 diabetes and is a spokesperson for Know Diabetes by Heart, an initiative of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.

"Managing key health numbers can help you prevent complications from diabetes, like heart failure and kidney disease," Barraza says.

"You don't have to wait until you get sick to go to the doctor. You and your doctor should work together now to keep you from getting sick," she emphasizes.

Five key numbers all people living with diabetes should measure regularly are:

• BMI (body mass index). Your BMI is an estimate of body size based on height and weight that is used to help determine if you're overweight or obese. A normal BMI usually ranges from 18.6 to 24.9 and can be calculated at home using a BMI calculator or in a doctor's office.
• Blood Pressure. Blood pressure is how strongly the blood pumps through your body when your heart beats, and is a sign of heart health. A healthy blood pressure for most people is less than 120/80, but your doctor may give you a different goal based on your diabetes. Blood pressure can be measured at home if you have a blood pressure monitor, or in a doctor's office.
• A1C. Your A1C is a measure of average blood glucose levels for the past two to three months. A healthy A1C for someone with diabetes is 7 percent or less. A1C is measured by a blood test and should be checked at least every six months if you have diabetes.
• Cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance in the blood. If cholesterol levels are too high, they can cause fatty deposits in blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Cholesterol is measured by a fasting blood test in a doctor's office.
• Kidney function. Early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) can make a huge difference. An often overlooked, simple test is the UACR (urine albumin to creatinine ratio) which can detect early signs of trouble. Kidney function is measured in a doctor's office and should be done every year.

Visit DiabetesdeCorazon.org for more information.

(NewsUSA)

 "Your Destiny Is Inside You"
by Ana Pat

Takes readers on a spiritual journey and inspires the awakening of a new state of consciousness, based on a deep understanding that everything is energy. It demonstrates how the liberation of the ego-based mind transforms consciousness, opening up a whole new world of positive energy allowing you to stay optimistic in your daily life.

The book is a deeply spiritual manifesto that emanates with undeniable truth, wisdom and spiritual strength. It's a story about self-discovery. It teaches the wisdom of listening to your own heart. It helps to get rid of suffering and obsessions based on self-limiting beliefs that deprive you of joy, peace and creativity. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3rEJyqa.

"The Audacity of Sara Grayson"
by Joani Elliott

Sara Grayson is a 32-year-old greeting card writer about to land the toughest assignment of her life. Three weeks after the death of her mother -- a world-famous suspense novelist -- Sara learns that her mother's dying wish is for her to write the final book in her bestselling series.

Sara can't fathom writing a book for 30 million fans, but in a bold move, she takes it on. Against an impossible deadline and a publisher intent on sabotaging her every move, Sara discovers that stepping into her mother's shoes means stumbling on family secrets she was never meant to find -- secrets that threaten her mother's legacy and the very book she's trying to create. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3hJWRlo.

"Prohibition Wine"
by Mariann Knapp

For readers who enjoy true crime and books like Anita Diamant's "Boston Girl," "Prohibition Wine" details a determined woman trying to make ends meet during the Great Depression and against all odds. When Rebecca Goldberg, a poor young widow with six children living in 1920s rural Massachusetts, had to decide between taking her older kids out of school to send them to work and breaking the law by selling illegal alcohol during Prohibition, her choice was clear: she broke the law.

This captivating true story of a women's struggle to keep her family afloat, though over 100 years ago, will resonate with the experience of immigrant families today and the prejudice, poverty, and marginalization still experienced. Purchase at https://amzn.to/2L1bAMC.

"No Footprint Is Too Small"
by Dimas Cintron

An inspiring story of survival, coping and healing. Follow the story of Dimas, a father who lost his son to brain cancer. Pain and sadness entered his life when he first received the horrible news, but he was still filled with hope.

This memoir is not just a story about loss. It's about the process of going through it -- a story about surviving the storm of pain and healing. Accompany Dimas on his heartfelt journey through unknown territory filled with pain and confusion. Follow him on his path of revelation and realization to discover how to get himself out of the void. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3dcFZUi.

NOTE: BookBites is a continuing series bringing readers information and ideas for their next read. For more reading ideas, visit BookTrib.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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(NewsUSA) - The 2021 Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Carry Forward® Virtual 5K, presented by USAA®, is off and running! And, it's easier than ever to participate in this powerful, unique event that allows supporters to help put WWP's mission in motion in their communities or neighborhoods.

Celebrating its fourth year, the Carry Forward Virtual 5K supports the life-changing programs and services - including mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitation care - dedicated to improving the lives of warriors and their families. Please honor the courageous men and women who have served in the U.S. military and consider participating in the Carry Forward Virtual 5K.

Supporters can participate in a walk or run as an individual or part of a team. Virtual Carry Forward events allow participants to support wounded veterans with a 5K they can host in their communities at their convenience.

"Fujitsu supports causes that are near and dear to our hearts, and helping those who have served our country is the right thing to do," says Matt Peterson, President and COO, Fujitsu General America, Inc. "We are proud to be the sponsor of Wounded Warrior Project's Carry Forward Virtual 5K, and hope you will join us in taking strides to make the world a better place." To get involved, visit fujitsugeneral.com/cares/warriors.

Whatever your preferred method, the WWP Carry Forward Virtual 5K offers a one-of-a-kind chance to:

• Honor family members, friends, coworkers, or neighbors who served in the military
• Help boost awareness of WWP and the many ways they support injured veterans and their families, and
• Help raise funds by soliciting donations from family, friends and coworkers to support your team.

Carry Forward is an opportunity for participants and warriors to focus on physical health and wellness -- and to connect wounded warriors with other veterans, supporters, and members of the community. In a 2020 WWP survey of the wounded warriors it serves, about nine in 10 warriors report having more than three injuries or health problems related to their service for our country.

Since 2003, WWP has been a tireless advocate for our nation's finest, improving the lives of millions of warriors and their families. WWP's mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors.

Every step you take and dollar you raise will help empower wounded warriors as they take on their next mission. Please help WWP continue to transform the way America's injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in our communities.

For more information, visit fujitsugeneral.com/cares/warriors to learn more.

(NewsUSA)

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"Under the Magnolias"
by T.I. Lowe

T. I. Lowe's gritty yet tender and uplifting tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart . . . then heal it in the best possible way.

Austin Foster is barely a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins, leaving her to pick up the pieces while holding her six siblings together and doing her best to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness.

Scratching out a living on the family's tobacco farm is as tough as it gets. Just when it seems she might have something more waiting for her -- with the son of a wealthy local family who she's crushed on for years -- her father makes a choice that will crack wide-open the family's secrets and lead to a public reckoning. Purchase at https://amzn.to/30eay45.

"A Road Trip to Remember"
by Judith Keim

A fun and memorable road trip between grandmother and granddaughter brings about surprises and love as they discover new possibilities for everything they've ever wanted.

Aggie and her granddaughter Blythe drive to Florida, stopping to see old college friends along the way -- particularly Donovan Bailey, the man she'd thought she'd marry. Aggie's son and his wife, Blythe's difficult stepmother, can't find out.

All goes well until Aggie falls while dancing with Donovan. Then Blythe's father is seriously injured in an automobile accident. Blythe and Logan Pierce, Donovan's young assistant, do their best to step in for them at work, fighting their mutual attraction. A fun novel from a prolific author. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3kBE4dB.

"EVE-o"
by Danielle Gomes

Would you sacrifice a few lives to potentially save millions?

When a team of scientists discovers the deadly consequences of a human gene they dub "the evolution gene," they quickly realize that the human race is on the brink of extinction.

As pandemic after pandemic ravages the world, symptomatic of the looming eradication of all humankind, this team heads to the Amazon for one last chance to save humanity. While the modern world is on the verge of total collapse, salvation lies in a forgotten time. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3goseTY.

"Adam Names the Insects"
by Janice Dixon

A great read for the young and the young at heart, "Adam Names the Insects" (with a little help from Eve) is a whimsical telling of an old story. The author takes the reader through a child-like excursion in the Garden of Eden in which Adam inspects the various insects and pronounces each name. He uses the sense of smell to name the stink bug and the sense of sound to name the Bzzz. Readers delight in the clever back and forth between Adam and Eve.

The book has been described as "a clever, refreshing, glimpse into the lives of two delightfully dissimilar individuals tasked with naming the insects." Come along and enjoy the journey. Purchase at http://bit.ly/3kd9OFK.

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.