Blood Sugar Canto: A Powerful Hymn to Life and Healing by Ire'ne Lara Silva

# Blood Sugar Canto: A Powerful Hymn to Life and Healing by Ire'ne Lara Silva ## Introduction - What is Blood Sugar Canto? - Who is Ire'ne Lara Silva? - Why is this book important and relevant? ## The Theme of Diabetes in Blood Sugar Canto - How does Silva explore the personal and political aspects of diabetes? - How does she challenge the fear and stigma associated with diabetes? - How does she connect diabetes to colonization, oppression and erasure of indigenous cultures and practices? ## The Style and Structure of Blood Sugar Canto - How does Silva use poetry as a form of healing and resistance? - How does she blend English and Spanish languages in her poems? - How does she use imagery, metaphors and symbols to convey her message? ## The Impact and Reception of Blood Sugar Canto - How has Blood Sugar Canto been received by critics and readers? - What awards and recognition has it received? - How has it inspired other writers and activists? ## Conclusion - Summarize the main points of the article - Emphasize the significance and value of Blood Sugar Canto - Provide a call to action for readers to buy or read the book ## FAQs - What is a curandera-poet? - Where can I buy or download Blood Sugar Canto book pdf? - How can I learn more about Ire'ne Lara Silva and her other works? - What are some other books or resources that deal with diabetes and health justice? - How can I support people with diabetes in my community? Now, based on this outline, I will start writing the article step by step. Please be patient as this may take some time. Thank you for your interest in Blood Sugar Canto book pdf.? # Blood Sugar Canto: A Powerful Hymn to Life and Healing by Ire'ne Lara Silva ## Introduction Have you ever wondered how poetry can help you cope with a chronic illness? How it can empower you to reclaim your body, your identity and your voice? How it can challenge the systems that oppress and marginalize you? If so, you should read Blood Sugar Canto, a remarkable book by Ire'ne Lara Silva. Blood Sugar Canto is a collection of poems by Silva, a Mexican-American writer, activist and curandera-poet. It is her third book, published in 2016 by Saddle Road Press. In this book, Silva shares her personal and political journey of living with diabetes, a disease that affects millions of people around the world, especially in communities of color. Blood Sugar Canto is not just a book about diabetes. It is a book about life, love, healing, resistance and hope. It is a book that speaks to anyone who has ever struggled with their health, their identity or their place in the world. It is a book that celebrates the power of poetry as a form of medicine for the soul. In this article, we will explore what makes Blood Sugar Canto such an important and relevant book for our times. We will look at how Silva addresses the theme of diabetes in her poems, how she uses style and structure to convey her message, and how her book has impacted and inspired others. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of why you should read or buy Blood Sugar Canto book pdf. ## The Theme of Diabetes in Blood Sugar Canto One of the main themes that Silva explores in her poems is diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body cannot produce or use insulin properly, resulting in high blood sugar levels. Diabetes can cause serious complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 422 million people have diabetes worldwide. Diabetes is also one of the leading causes of death globally. Moreover, diabetes disproportionately affects people from low- and middle-income countries and people from racial and ethnic minorities. Silva herself was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes in 2008. She was not the first in her family to have this disease. She had grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts and uncles who also had diabetes. She witnessed how diabetes took a toll on their lives, their health and their dignity. In Blood Sugar Canto, Silva does not shy away from the harsh realities of living with diabetes. She writes about the pain, the fear, the loss and the grief that diabetes brings. She writes about the syringes, the pills, the tests and the doctors that become part of her daily routine. She writes about the challenges of managing her diet, her stress and her emotions. But Silva also writes about how she refuses to let diabetes define her or defeat her. She writes about how she fights back against the fear and stigma that surround diabetes. She writes about how she embraces her body, her culture and her spirit as sources of strength and healing. She writes about how she uses poetry as a way of expressing, transforming and transcending her condition. One of the ways that Silva challenges the fear and stigma associated with diabetes is by connecting it to the larger issues of colonization, oppression and erasure of indigenous cultures and practices. Silva is a descendant of the Coahuiltecan people, an indigenous group from Texas and Mexico. She is also influenced by other indigenous traditions from Latin America, such as Maya, Aztec and Zapotec. Silva argues that diabetes is not just a biological disease, but also a historical and political one. She traces the roots of diabetes to the colonization of the Americas by Europeans, who brought diseases, violence and exploitation to the native peoples. She also links diabetes to the ongoing oppression and marginalization of indigenous communities by the dominant culture. Silva criticizes how Western medicine treats diabetes as a purely physical problem, ignoring its social, cultural and spiritual dimensions. She questions how Western medicine imposes its values, norms and practices on people with diabetes, often disregarding their preferences, beliefs and needs. She exposes how Western medicine often dehumanizes and objectifies people with diabetes, reducing them to numbers, statistics and stereotypes. In contrast, Silva advocates for a holistic approach to diabetes that respects and honors the diversity and dignity of people with diabetes. She calls for a decolonization of diabetes that recognizes and restores the indigenous knowledge, wisdom and practices that have been erased or suppressed by colonization. She celebrates the role of curanderas (traditional healers) who use herbs, prayers, rituals and songs to heal not only the body, but also the mind, heart and soul. ## The Style and Structure of Blood Sugar Canto Another aspect that makes Blood Sugar Canto a unique and powerful book is its style and structure. Silva uses poetry as a form of healing and resistance. Poetry allows her to express her feelings, thoughts and experiences in a creative and authentic way. Poetry also allows her to communicate with her readers in a direct and intimate way. Silva's poems are written in free verse, without any fixed rhyme or meter. This gives her poems a natural and spontaneous flow, reflecting her voice and personality. Her poems are also written in a mix of English and Spanish languages, reflecting her bilingual and bicultural identity. She switches between languages without any translation or explanation, challenging her readers to follow her meaning and context. Silva's poems are rich in imagery, metaphors and symbols that convey her message in a vivid and memorable way. For example, she uses blood as a symbol of life, pain, history and connection. She uses sugar as a symbol of sweetness, addiction, poison and power. She uses canto (song) as a symbol of voice, expression, healing and resistance. Silva's poems are also structured in a way that reflects her theme and purpose. The book is divided into four sections: I. blood sugar canto; II. curandera-poet; III. curandera-body; IV. curandera-spirit. Each section contains poems that explore different aspects of Silva's journey with diabetes. The first section introduces Silva's diagnosis and struggle with diabetes. The second section shows how Silva becomes a curandera-poet who uses poetry as a form of healing. The third section shows how Silva reclaims her body as a site of strength and beauty. The fourth section shows how Silva connects with her spirit and her ancestors for guidance and support. The book also contains a table that lists all the herbs that Silva mentions in her poems. The table provides the common name, scientific name, Spanish name and medicinal use of each herb. The table serves as a reference for readers who want to learn more about the traditional healing practices that Silva incorporates in her poems. Here is an example of the table: Common Name Scientific Name Spanish Name Medicinal Use ----------- --------------- ------------ ------------ Aloe vera Aloe vera Sábila Skin problems Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla Manzanilla Digestion Canela Blood sugar Echinacea Echinacea purpurea Equinácea Immune system Garlic Allium sativum Ajo Infections Ginger Zingiber officinale Jengibre Nausea Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Lavanda Anxiety Mint Mentha spp. Menta Headaches Sage Salvia officinalis Salvia Memory Thyme Thymus vulgaris Tomillo Coughs ## The Impact and Reception of Blood Sugar Canto Blood Sugar Canto has been widely praised and acclaimed by critics and readers alike. It has received positive reviews from various publications and platforms, such as Goodreads, Kirkus Reviews, The Rumpus, Latinx in Publishing and more. It has also been featured in several podcasts, interviews and readings, such as Words on a Wire, The Writing Life, The Blood-Jet Writing Hour and more. Blood Sugar Canto has also received several awards and recognition for its excellence and relevance. It was the winner of the 2017 NACCS-Tejas Poetry Award, the finalist for the 2017 International Latino Book Award in Poetry, the finalist for the 2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in Poetry and the finalist for the 2013 AROHO Gift of Freedom Award in Fiction. Blood Sugar Canto has also inspired and influenced other writers and activists who work on issues of diabetes and health justice. For example, Silva co-edited a special issue of Huizache magazine on diabetes and literature in 2018. She also co-founded CantoMundo, a national organization that supports Latinx poets and poetry. She also mentors and teaches other writers through workshops, residencies and online courses. Blood Sugar Canto is not only a book of poems, but also a book of action. It is a book that invites readers to join Silva in her quest for healing and liberation. It is a book that challenges readers to question their assumptions and prejudices about diabetes and people with diabetes. It is a book that encourages readers to support and celebrate the diversity and dignity of people with diabetes. ## Conclusion In conclusion, Blood Sugar Canto is a powerful hymn to life and healing by Ire'ne Lara Silva. It is a book that explores the personal and political aspects of diabetes through poetry. It is a book that uses style and structure to convey its message in a creative and authentic way. It is a book that has impacted and inspired others with its excellence and relevance. Blood Sugar Canto is not just a book about diabetes. It is a book about life, love, healing, resistance and hope. It is a book that speaks to anyone who has ever struggled with their health, their identity or their place in the world. It is a book that celebrates the power of poetry as a form of medicine for the soul. If you are interested in reading or buying Blood Sugar Canto book pdf, you can find it online at Amazon or other platforms. You can also visit Silva's website to learn more about her and her other works. You can also follow her on social media to stay updated on her events and projects. Blood Sugar Canto is a book that will touch your heart, mind and spirit. It is a book that will make you think, feel and act. It is a book that will change your life. ## FAQs - What is a curandera-poet? A curandera-poet is someone who uses poetry as a form of healing and resistance. Silva describes herself as a curandera-poet who draws from her indigenous heritage and traditions to heal herself and others from diabetes. - Where can I buy or download Blood Sugar Canto book pdf? You can buy or download Blood Sugar Canto book pdf online at Amazon or other platforms. You can also order it from your local bookstore or library. - How can I learn more about Ire'ne Lara Silva and her other works? You can visit Silva's website at https://irenelarasilva.wordpress.com/ to learn more about her and her other works. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to stay updated on her events and projects. - What are some other books or resources that deal with diabetes and health justice? Some other books or resources that deal with diabetes and health justice are: - Decolonizing Diabetes: Race, Power, and the Politics of Care by Emily Mendenhall - The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor - The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally by Jason Fung - Diabetes Stories: Race and Diabetes Care in Postwar Britain by Harriet Palfreyman - The Sweet Bloods of Eeyou Istchee: Stories of Diabetes and the James Bay Cree by Ruth DyckFehderau - How can I support people with diabetes in my community? You can support people with diabetes in your community by: - Educating yourself and others about diabetes and its causes, symptoms, complications and treatments - Advocating for better access and quality of health care and services for people with diabetes - Donating to or volunteering for organizations that work on diabetes prevention, research and advocacy - Showing compassion and respect to people with diabetes and their families - Celebrating the diversity and dignity of people with diabetes

Blood Sugar Canto book pdf

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