United Nations World Diabetes Day Nov. 14, 2007

I have type II diabetes, and have lived with it since 1991.

Millions of people around the world have diabetes -- both type I and type II, diagnosed and undiagnosed -- and today is a day in their honor.

I am one of 246 million people in the world who have diabetes, and our ranks will grow in the next 20 years to more than 380 million. Alarming. Frightening. Dangerous.

This is a reminder to encourage your family members to check regularly for diabetes during doctor bloodwork. All it takes is a simple blood test, but it can save your life.

Believe me when I say I wish I'd been more attentive to my problems when I was first diagnosed. Because of complications of my causation, I am now legally blind in my right eye and have significant stomach and digestive problems because of diabetic neuropathy. My dear aunt has lost her leg and in on dialysis because of her complications.

All it takes is a simple blood test and care.

In honor of the day, and thinking ahead to Thanksgiving, here's one of my favorite sugar-free, gluten-free dishes. It was one of the first I learned.

Cool Pineapple Jell-0 Mold

1 small box of sugar free Jell-O (SF Black Cherry and Cranberry are good. So is Orange)
1 large can of crushed pineapple
1 cup of buttermilk (nonfat is good here)
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Boil Jell-O powder with pineapple in a saucepan. Add the buttermilk. Stir in the nuts. Pour into mold.
Chill til firm and serve.
Can be easily doubled and placed in a 13 by 9 pan and cut into squares for serving.

Believe it or not, it makes a beautiful cream-like Jell-O congealed salad. Perfect for those of us who can't make Jell-O.