Griffin Speaks

LUTHER VANDROSS

Luther Vandross, age 54 and one of the most celebrated singer/songwriters of the 80s died from complications from diabetes on Sunday July 3, 2005 at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in New Jersey. He had a life long battle with obesity. He would go up and down from fat to skinny. Some rumored that he had more serious health problems like AIDS. Diabetes also killed Vandross’ father at age 38, two sisters and a brother. He was a life long bachelor with no children. 

Vandross won several Grammy awards. He took home Grammys in 1990 for his single HERE and NOW. In 1991 he won Grammys for POWER of LOVE/LOVE POWER.   Luther was born in a housing project in New York. He received his break into the music business as a backup singer to the legendary David Bowie. 

In 2003 Luther Vandross suffered a debilitating stroke in his Manhattan, New York apartment. He continued to record after his stroke even though he made no further public appearances. He won four more Grammys for his final album DANCE WITH MY FATHER. 

Mary Vandross, Luther’s mom became a spokesperson for Diabetes in 2004.

“Seeing Luther struck down by a stroke caused largely by diabetes was the last straw for me.” She continues to urge people to take diabetes very seriously. 

I was very sad when I learned of Luther’s passing. He was one of my favorite singers. He in my opinion ranked with Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie and Prince. I hope that people will learn from his passing that diabetes is nothing to play with. 

Rueben Studdard the grossly overweight winner of American Idol is affectionately called the Velvet Teddy Bear. I hope that he take notice and lose some weight. Luther tried very hard to manage his weight. He wanted very much to live. Unfortunately diabetes won. 

My wife, Debra Griffin is the Nurse Educator Coordinator for the Alabama Department of Public Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. She recommends to people at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes to take the following steps to prevent the disease: lose between 5% to 7% of your total body weight, eat a healthy diet and exercise a minimum of 30 minutes a day five times a week. 

Debra says “If you currently have the disease and you want to minimize complications you need to monitor carefully your hemoglobin (A1C) which is the average blood sugar over the last 90 days. It is recommended that your A1C should be less than 7. Your blood pressure should be below 130 over 80. Your bad cholesterol (LDL) should be less than 70 in high risk patients and less than 100 in most diabetic patients.” 

Good health is a blessing. If you have good health you have just about everything. Guard your good health and live a long and prosperous life. 

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com