Month: August 2020

Mike P., a Diabetes STAR Patient

Mike is the sort of person where seeing is believing. When he was diagnosed 20 years ago with type 1 diabetes, he needed to know that he truly could have an impact on the disease. So he signed up with a weight-loss program. “I needed to confirm the physiology of the disease,” he explains. As his weight dropped and his blood sugar numbers improved, Mike was convinced. From then on, he was all about finding solutions that worked for him and fit his life.

Finding Focus with a Smart-Phone App

Mike was motivated. “I wanted to live a long life with my wife and children,” he says. But he also was stymied—“How do I do this?!” He had attended PacMed diabetes support groups and nutrition classes, but what pulled it all together for him was an app on his smart phone.

“I realized technology could help me make a change in the foods that I ate and the exercise that I wasn’t doing,” he says. The app focused him where he didn’t have a focus before. Shopping became routine, convenient and even fun. He could plug foods into the app and quickly know what he could buy.

Enlisting Confidants

At 260 pounds, Mike knew from his days as a Navy Pilot that his ideal weight was 207 pounds. “I’d had assertiveness training in the Navy, and it was time to be assertive with myself,” he says.

Mike knew he needed to change his diet—“no more chips or chocolates!” And he knew he needed his wife and daughter’s support if this was really going to work. “My family became my confidants,” he says. “They participated in food exclusions and supported my goals and attitudes.”

Strong Tools, Strong Results

Mike went from a 44 waist to a 38 in six months. He’s lowered his A1c levels from 8.2% to 6.1%. He’s cut most of his medications in half. “It’s important to get your tools together,” Mike advises. “An app, a meter you can and will use everywhere, food labels—and your brain, the best tool in the tool pouch!”

“The rewards come in all sizes,” Mike says. “They may be better test results, a smiling spouse, a pleased doctor or comments from coworkers.” Once a week Mike and his family treat themselves. They go to their favorite restaurant and enjoy an 800-calorie meal—steak, potatoes, mushrooms. They really enjoy their weekly ritual.

PacMed can help you find an approach that suits you. Talk to your provider and learn more at www.PacMed.org/diabetes.

Georgia, a Diabetes STAR Patient

As retired military, Georgia knows how to be disciplined. When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 15 years ago, losing weight became a top goal. She’d lost 60 pounds several times, but always gained it back. So she made a plan—and lost 130 pounds!

“I never set out to lose half my weight! That’s a goal I’d never be able to make. I’d feel defeated before I even started,” says Georgia.

Losing a Whole “Me”

Georgia looked at her weight in 10-pound increments. She’d set a goal to lose 10 pounds and then maintain her new weight for three months. Then she’d set another 10-pound goal and hold that weight. And so on.

It took Georgia four years to lose 130 pounds—an amount that’s more than her current body weight. She’s kept it off for five years. And this past spring, Georgia’s doctor took her off all her medications!

Georgia also set out to learn all she could about diabetes. She did a lot of reading. She also had some habits to change—such as dealing with stress by eating a processed sweet, like a Twinkie or Ding Dong. “Now they taste terrible!” she says. Today, she watches what she eats and finds alternatives that taste just as good.

Yea Team!

Georgia learned that the people around her play a crucial role. “I don’t let others sabotage my efforts. It’s amazing how many people do that!” she says. “I just tell them to leave me alone, that I want to eat healthy.” And that’s exactly what she does. She appreciates her friends and family who are also focused on health and encourage her.

“I wish I had known at the get-go that there are great support groups for diabetics—people who are in the same boat, who you can talk with,” adds Georgia. PacMed offers monthly support groups for patients and their supporters.

No Place to Go But Up

As for the psychological aspect to losing weight, Georgia adds, “My aunt would say that you need to reach your Benjamin Bottom—that point where there is no place else to go but up. I reached it: I was tired, couldn’t get a date… I’m a fun, nice person, and I wanted more out of life!”

Since then, Georgia has fallen in love, feels great and has an excellent team at PacMed who guide her and cheer her on. “Diabetes is not a death sentence unless you let it be,” she says. “If you want to have a normal life, there are choices.”

PacMed can help you find an approach that suits you. Talk to your provider and learn more at www.PacMed.org/diabetes.

Jeremy B., a Diabetes STAR Patient

Many of Jeremy’s first thoughts about his diagnosis were driven by fear. Would he have to give himself shots? How would he deal with his health—and juggle his role as stay-at-home father? Would he die?

Not to worry! Jeremy has created a positive, loving environment and built up good habits to improve his health. He has lost over 200 pounds, cut his medications in half and brought his diabetes under control. “The more you do, the more progress you make,” says Jeremy. “I am very motivated to keep going!”

Finding the Positive

Jeremy was concerned by persistent swelling in his legs. So he visited his PacMed primary care provider. The diagnosis: lymphedema and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes runs in Jeremy’s family, so he wasn’t entirely surprised. Plus, his weight topped 475 pounds, and he knew he had poor eating habits.

It took Georgia four years to lose 130 pounds—an amount that’s more than her current body weight. She’s kept it off for five years. And this past spring, Georgia’s doctor took her off all her medications!

Jeremy wants to live a long life and enjoy his son and daughter as they grew into adulthood. To turn things around, he focused on the positive.

Nothing Like Good Friends

Jeremy’s first task was to create a caring, encouraging team. At home, he was in a stressful and unsupportive situation and felt isolated. Every effort at good health was sabotaged. So he made a big change: he left and moved in with a good friend.

“Ever since I moved, I’ve lost weight,” says Jeremy. In 15 months, he dropped close to 200 pounds. With less stress in his life, he no longer lets his emotions control his eating. “My friend believes in me. He encourages me to take walks—and gets on me when I slip up.” Twice a month, they loosen up, heading out for a meal and trivia at a favorite pub.

Jeremy continues to see the same doctor, even though he is now farther from the clinic. They have a strong rapport and have found solutions that suit Jeremy. Not a fan of needles, he is pleased to use pills rather than injections to help manage his diabetes.

Taking Charge for Good Health

“It’s important to take charge of your health,” Jeremy advises. He takes the stairs at the light rail station, instead of the escalator. He uses a blood sugar meter to make sure his sugar levels are between 40 and 150 . By attending nutrition classes, he has learned about ingredients and portions—“It’s all about the process of managing what you eat.”

After a recent snow storm, Jeremy shoveled a path for his neighbor. Not so long ago, he wouldn’t have even thought about doing that! He wasn’t emotionally and physically capable to help out like that.”

Today, he’s aiming for 300 pounds and hopes to buy a bike. “I feel so much better and have the energy to do more things,” says Jeremy. “It’s an incredible feeling!”

PacMed can help you find an approach that suits you. Talk to your provider and learn more at www.PacMed.org/diabetes.

Dan P., a Diabetes STAR Patient

Dan’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes wasn’t a simple, linear process. Hardly! See, Dan’s super healthy—a gym owner, personal trainer and athlete with a degree in exercise science. Fitness and health are his life. So three years ago, he wasn’t sure what to make of some unusual symptoms. But diabetes sure wasn’t one of his guesses.

Undeniable Symptoms and the Power of Denial

Dan didn’t have any energy when he worked out and could barely finish his warm up. His strength was noticeably diminishing, he’d dropped 20 pounds and he was urinating a lot. “I thought I had a cold,” he says.

On Christmas, Dan drank a couple Mimosas—champagne with orange juice. “I fell asleep … and kept on sleeping all the way through Christmas.” His girlfriend’s dad had a glucometer. When Dan’s blood sugar measured 670–680, the father told him to go immediately to the hospital. “I told him that his machine was faulty!” says Dan.

Dan did eventually visit a hospital, and he stayed for 10 hours. Getting his diagnosis correct was tricky. First they pegged him as a type 2 diabetic, then type 1.5. In the end, his diagnosis is type 1 diabetes.

Building a Team

Dan has a quiet confidence about him, and although he’s struggled with it, he’s taken his diagnosis in stride. “I went through a ton of trial and error figuring out how to manage my blood glucose while exercising. If I had been around other type-1 athletes, I could have learned much quicker and not had so many frustrating issues.” PacMed offers several diabetes classes and support groups.

Dan and his girlfriend are learning about nutrition and diabetes together. “I’ve always known how to read nutrition labels. That’s a really important skill.” His friends also are supportive. A couple of times, a friend has had to come to Dan’s rescue because he didn’t bring enough food—or none at all. “I could stand to get better at this,” he notes.

Dan’s happy to report that he’s gained back the 20 pounds he lost and is much leaner, with less body fat.

A Silver Lining or Two

“My diabetes diagnosis has caused me to grow up much faster,” says Dan. “I’m more responsible, and business at my gym has really picked up.” At the gym, Dan’s added more nutritional components. He loves helping others and, someday, may cater some services to people with diabetes.

“I would tell other type-1 diabetics that of all the diseases out there, type 1 diabetes is pretty awesome because it’s very manageable,” he adds. “If you can move your body, you can control the disease.”

PacMed can help you find an approach that suits you. Talk to your provider and learn more at www.PacMed.org/diabetes.