When Nicole Hernandez was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes in 2007, her world turned upside down. But she was determined to triumph over the disease. The now-26-year-old Cubana took action by educating herself and becoming more health conscious.

“I understood why learning what I put in my body and how it would affect me was very important,” Hernandez says. “Learning how to have a healthy balance between my diet and type-1 diabetes was hard to accomplish. But I think I am at a very good place now.”

In 2009 Hernandez began participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) walk at Miami Metro with family friends. After her second year she wanted to do more for the cause, so she created the Art of a Cure Fundraiser. The annual event is an autumn evening of food, drinks, a silent auction and networking. To date, Art of a Cure has raised over $32,500 for the JDRF.

In addition to raising money, Hernandez has used the fundraiser to increase awareness of the disease. As the chair of the Young Leadership Committee of the JDRF of South Florida, she believes it’s her mission to spread the word in her community and help other Latinos with the disease stay healthy.

“If anyone asks me a question, I am very open about talking about type-1 diabetes,” she says. “And, when I hear of someone’s diagnosis, I try to reach out to them and offer my support.”

Hernandez hopes that eventually Art of a Cure Fundraiser will assist the JDRF in finding a cure for the disease. “My goal is for this small event to grow into an evening where thousands attend and millions of dollars are raised.”

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death among Hispanic women. In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we asked Olivia Fe, executive director and founder of the Latina Breast Cancer Agency (latinabca.org) -- an advocacy group based in San Francisco -- about what Latinas can do to reduce their risk of breast cancer. 

1.   Do Self-Checks. “Early detection is critical to survival,” says Fe, whose organization educates Latinas on breast cancer and helps them get access to early detection and timely treatment. “While a breast self-exam is not a substitute for an exam done by your physician, you know your body best so by doing monthly self exams you’re more likely to detect any changes in your breasts.”

2.   Know Your Family History. Knowledge of your family’s history of breast cancer will help you and your doctor decide on the best course of preventative action for you.

3.   Be Your Own Advocate. Speak up, ask questions -- and get a second opinion if you’re not satisfied with your doctor’s responses.

4.   Get Yearly Exams. Annual clinical breast exams performed by a physician are recommended for women ages 40 and older, and every one to three years for women ages 20 to 39. Yearly mammograms are also recommended for women over 40. Enhanced breast cancer screening -- such as more frequent clinical breast exams, annual MRIs, or mammograms before the age of 40 -- may be recommended for women at high risk of breast cancer.

5.   Live a Healthy Lifestyle. Studies show that eating healthy and exercising at least 30 minutes every day can help lower your chances of breast cancer. Eat a variety of antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains and oily fish (like salmon and tuna). Avoid foods high in saturated and trans fats, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol -- all of which can increase your risk of breast cancer.

With the onset of spring, it’s easy to feel less confident as we shed the layers of winter clothing. For Corazon Tierra, a New York City–based body-esteem expert, getting back body confidence is about making a commitment to love your body no matter the weight or size. Here, Tierra shares some helpful tools that lead to a healthy and realistic body image.

Keep a positive outlook. Repeat these words every morning: “I love my body unconditionally. I treat it with respect and kindness. I am beautiful.” Gradually, you’ll train your mind to substitute self-hatred talk for self-loving thoughts.

Take a magical bath. Water is a feminine element that awakens our goddess nature. Use sea salts or essential oils to prepare a special bath for yourself. Lavender, jasmine, rose and cinnamon are excellent for awakening positive feelings.

Express yourself in your attire. Ask yourself: “How does my presence transform a room when I go in? Does it become more joyful or more harmonious?”

Spend time in nature. Being near trees, flowers and water relaxes your body and uplifts your spirit. Allow yourself to simply be and enjoy the beauty around you.

Express body gratitude. Set aside five minutes several times per week to meditate. Close your eyes, and breathe in and breathe out slowly. Then, touch your legs, knees and feet, giving thanks for everything each body part does for you. Your body will feel completely appreciated and you will shine again.

With young kids, it can often be difficult to incorporate healthy nutrition into your kids’ diet as well as your own. We asked experts for easy tips on helping your kids -- and yourself -- successfully stay healthy and perform better.

Start Your Day off Right
“Eating a healthy breakfast is the single most important thing you can do,” says Barbara Mendez, a New York City–based nutritionist and pharmacist. From cereals to scones, 99 percent of what we eat has way too much sugar. Instead, Mendez recommends plain oatmeal with fresh fruit and cinnamon, which regulates your metabolism and burns fat. Another fast recipe is to make mini- frittatas (baked omelets) in muffin pans. You can individually wrap them and eat them on the go.

Smart Snacks
Seven to eight hours can pass between meals, which is when junk-food danger can strike. Mendez suggests beating cravings with good high-protein, low-fat snacks, such as sliced apples with natural peanut butter, or a little guacamole on a corn tortilla. All are easy-to-pack school lunches.

Stay Hydrated
“Hydration for the whole family is hugely important and often overlooked,” says Mendez. Drinking more water speeds up your metabolism by 3 percent, which helps you burn an extra 150 calories.

The Family That Plays Together Stays Together
Make fitness fun by joining a family soccer league or bringing your kids along to yoga class. Implement after-dinner strolls to look at the stars. People that are more active are less likely to be obese and have cancer, heart disease, stress and depression. Encouraging family fitness is the best way to show that you care.

Growing up in poverty in Puerto Rico, Dr. Aida Giachello, who has a doctorate in medical sociology, witnessed the health conditions that kept Latinos from moving ahead: diabetes, asthma, obesity and lack of insurance. But years later, while doing social research at Northwestern University, Giachello learned that the barriers getting in the way of success went far beyond health concerns. “Issues of low education, poverty, poor housing, unemployment, racism and sexism were rampant,” says Giachello. But few knew how to remedy the social ills.

Wanting to gather accurate information, Giachello founded the Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1993. “I searched for new facts that would help us understand the Latino reality and then tried to do something about it,” she says. “Only the collective work of Latinos could begin to change their negative image in the U.S.”

As the center’s director, Giachello worked closely with ordinary people in the community. She sat in on meetings with middle-aged immigrants, where they were advised on everything from blood sugar management and exercise goals to how many tortillas to eat per day.

Over time, she developed innovative models to educate people in the prevention and management of chronic diseases, many of which have been adopted internationally. She also trains Latino and other minority researchers and health workers in the U.S. and Latin America. This way, “community leaders and organizations can advocate effectively for their health and social well-being,” says Giachello.

Giachello is using her research findings to bring about policies that would end the disproportionate ills Latinos have endured. “There is so much talent, and few have the opportunities to maximize their potential.”