Know the Enemy: Preventing Weight Gain, Diabetes, & Disease

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By LD Clarke

What struck me most was the heart behind every word. There are no lectures from the author. Instead, she shares, which makes her world seem very real. There aren't many books that combine personal stories with helpful advice really well. There is no shame or blame, just understanding and a real desire to help others stay away from pain that they don't need to go through. What kept me turning the pages was that sense of kindness and clarity.

The nutritional advice is straightforward and refreshingly accessible. It was great how the science was broken down into small pieces that didn't make it seem too simple to understand. Reading something that doesn't use scare tactics or impossible standards makes you feel stronger. The author promotes small changes that are done on purpose and values progress over perfection. That alone makes it stand out in a genre that is full of extremes.

I also found the emotional undercurrent to be incredibly grounding. This is more than a book about preventing disease—it’s about reclaiming health as a birthright. The lived experience behind the recommendations brings a layer of urgency and authenticity. If I wasn't reading just any health book, I felt like someone was walking with me, encouraging me and showing me better ways to do things.

The stories woven throughout bring a beautiful balance to the facts. They reminded me that behind every diagnosis, there’s a family learning, adapting, and growing together. That sense of togetherness—of not being alone in the struggle—was the most healing part of the book for me. It gave me hope and also practical tools I can implement without feeling overwhelmed.

Know the Enemy: Preventing Weight Gain, Diabetes, & Disease manages to be both informative and deeply human. It’s the kind of book I wish had existed when I was first trying to figure out what “healthy” really meant. Whether you're facing a chronic condition, trying to support a loved one, or simply want to live with more vitality and intention, this book offers wisdom, encouragement, and a well-lit path forward. I closed the final page feeling not just more informed—but more inspired.

About the Author

Milan Kordestani

Jodi Velazquez was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Robert Morris University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications and an emphasis on writing skills.

After graduating,Jodi left Pittsburgh to accompany her husband who accepted a job in Texas with the government. She worked as a graphic artist for two years at the Valley Morning Star and Island Times and briefly worked in the editorial department. After multiple moves, and learning how stressful moving can be, Jodi began writing the “Slick Move Guide: Secrets You Need to Know When Moving” to help others who were faced with relocation. She self-published this helpful, money-saving relocation guide in 2008. The book has been updated and is sold on Amazon as the “Slick Move Guide” and purchased by home builders, sports teams, moving companies, and the National Association of Realtors.

In 2012, she self-published a “Professional Athlete Edition.” In 2014, Jodi Velazquez was interviewed as an “Ultimate Expert” about relocation in Woman’s World Magazine’s April 24th Edition. Also, in 2014 the Slick Move Guide Latest Edition received the 2014 – 2015 TAZ Award for Business & Reference. (Pittsburgh, PA Author Award). The guidebook is praised for its simplicity in delivery.

In 2021, Jodi wrote colorful and fun online health and wellness articles for “The Downtowner” a product of the Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corporation.

Most recently, Jodi wrote “Know the Enemy – Preventing Weight Gain, Diabetes & Disease” a memoir/self-help book based on a 16-year journey of helping her daughter manage her Type 1 diabetes. (Release: October 2024)

Her daughter was diagnosed at the mere age of 19 months old and is now in her twenties. This book encompasses her and her daughter’s efforts for good diabetes management which in turn became healthy habits and good nutrition or the entire family. Jodi resides in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters.