Marvin Isley of the rhythm and blues group the Isley Brothers has died from complications of Type 2 diabetes at the age of 56, according to an article from the Examiner.
Isley joined the group as its bass player in 1973 after it already had already had some major hits, including “Shout” in 1959. Isley has not toured since 1996 because he suffered some of the disease’s serious complications, including a stroke and amputation of both of his legs. In a 2001 interview, Isley said he regretted ignoring his diabetes for so long.
Type 2 diabetes is a disease that impacts the body’s ability to properly use insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. Many people with the disease can help improve their condition through diet modifications and exercise. Others require medication. Type 2 diabetes impacts nearly 24 million people in the United States, or approximately 8% of the population. It impacts the African American community at an even higher rate – nearly 12%. Nearly 57 million people are considered pre-diabetic, which means that if they do not change their lifestyle, they are likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.
Many people with Type 2 diabetes do not know they have it and often experience significant damage to their body by the time they see a doctor and get diagnosed.
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