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Type 2 diabetes
Personal Account
Type 2 diabetes Carol Guber
Lancet 2005; 365: 1347 See Seminar page 1333
It was our precious mother-daughter secret, and our undercover bond. Growing up in Pennsylvania in the 1950s, my mom and I shared a deep, constantly fulfilled passion: ice cream. I loved the sweet, creamy, chilly treat, of course. But the best part was how it connected me with my mother, who, if anything, was even more fanatical about the indulgence. Like coconspirators we would venture forth to an ice cream stand, leaving behind my older brother and three younger siblings. Order one dessert apiece? No way. We would order a second one as soon as we wiped off the first treat from our faces. We wouldn’t tell a soul. This was our private time, after all. A special relationship, just for the two of us. Today, my mother and I continue to share a bond. But this time it is type 2 diabetes. But while she suffers from an encyclopaedia of complications—diabetic retinopathy, a heart attack, incontinence, and neuropathies in her feet—I am on top of my game. In the 6 years since being diagnosed I have lost 52 pounds and have kept it off—that’s the biggest challenge. I was diagnosed during a routine medical examination, which I had avoided for several years. As my weight was rising in mid-life I put more and more distance between myself and my doctor, who I knew would give me a stern lecture about my growing girth. When I finally got around to a checkup, I was shocked by what my doctor told me. At the time I taught at New York University in the nutrition department. And I thought all that knowledge would be a kind of shield against a disease that has afflicted at least four generations of family members. It wasn’t. Luckily, I have a spirited nature, inherited from past generations of women in my family, as well as the diabetic genes. I put that to good use, along with my knowledge of proper nutrition. But this time it wasn’t textbook knowledge. This was real life. And I now had to employ everything I knew to forestall complications from diabetes. The first step was to realise that there was no quick fix. This was not about changing my eating habits with extreme diets or losing weight so I could get into a dress for a special occasion. This was about establishing
www.thelancet.com Vol 365 April 9, 2005
healthy patterns for the rest of my life. I knew that small changes could make a big difference. Even a 10–15% weight loss could lessen the chances of complications such as heart disease. I also began to change many priorities, giving my health and wellbeing greater importance, seeking a health-care team that I could speak with candidly and managing my stress with meditation. Early on after diagnosis I knew I needed to begin an exercise regime, which seemed daunting. How would I go to a gym and face bright young women and musclebound men when I was so doughy and ashamed of my body? A walking plan was the first activity. When that became routine, I was ready for a gym, where a smart trainer engaged me in boxing training—a perfect sport for a woman who is feisty and over fifty. I’ve now become a gym regular and feel great. But of all the activities and methods I’ve employed to maintain a healthy lifestyle, nothing has been more important than working to make a difference in the lives of others with diabetes. When first diagnosed, I began to volunteer with a local chapter of a leading diabetes organisation. The words of encouragement and thanks I receive from others with diabetes has renewed my efforts to make a difference. By spreading the word about early testing, I am helping others, but I am also taking control of my own diabetes, my overall health, my life. What folks don’t know is that more than exercise, more than eating properly, connecting with others with type 2 diabetes has made the biggest difference for me. I’ve learned from others. I’ve been able to climb out of my own story and be of service. And that’s almost as delicious as ice cream.
Correspondence to: Carol Guber, c/o The Lancet
Carol Guber is the author of Carol Guber’s type 2 diabetes life plan (Broadway Books, 2002) and plays a national role in raising awareness about health and diabetes
Further reading American Diabetes Association complete guide to diabetes, 3rd edn. American Diabetes Association. Bantam, 2003. Johns Hopkins guide to diabetes for today and tomorrow. Christopher D Saudek, Richard R Rubin, Cynthia S Shump. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.
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Type 2 diabetes Carol Guber
Lancet 2005; 365: 1347 See Seminar page 1333
It was our precious mother-daughter secret, and our undercover bond. Growing up in Pennsylvania in the 1950s, my mom and I shared a deep, constantly fulfilled passion: ice cream. I loved the sweet, creamy, chilly treat, of course. But the best part was how it connected me with my mother, who, if anything, was even more fanatical about the indulgence. Like coconspirators we would venture forth to an ice cream stand, leaving behind my older brother and three younger siblings. Order one dessert apiece? No way. We would order a second one as soon as we wiped off the first treat from our faces. We wouldn’t tell a soul. This was our private time, after all. A special relationship, just for the two of us. Today, my mother and I continue to share a bond. But this time it is type 2 diabetes. But while she suffers from an encyclopaedia of complications—diabetic retinopathy, a heart attack, incontinence, and neuropathies in her feet—I am on top of my game. In the 6 years since being diagnosed I have lost 52 pounds and have kept it off—that’s the biggest challenge. I was diagnosed during a routine medical examination, which I had avoided for several years. As my weight was rising in mid-life I put more and more distance between myself and my doctor, who I knew would give me a stern lecture about my growing girth. When I finally got around to a checkup, I was shocked by what my doctor told me. At the time I taught at New York University in the nutrition department. And I thought all that knowledge would be a kind of shield against a disease that has afflicted at least four generations of family members. It wasn’t. Luckily, I have a spirited nature, inherited from past generations of women in my family, as well as the diabetic genes. I put that to good use, along with my knowledge of proper nutrition. But this time it wasn’t textbook knowledge. This was real life. And I now had to employ everything I knew to forestall complications from diabetes. The first step was to realise that there was no quick fix. This was not about changing my eating habits with extreme diets or losing weight so I could get into a dress for a special occasion. This was about establishing
www.thelancet.com Vol 365 April 9, 2005
healthy patterns for the rest of my life. I knew that small changes could make a big difference. Even a 10–15% weight loss could lessen the chances of complications such as heart disease. I also began to change many priorities, giving my health and wellbeing greater importance, seeking a health-care team that I could speak with candidly and managing my stress with meditation. Early on after diagnosis I knew I needed to begin an exercise regime, which seemed daunting. How would I go to a gym and face bright young women and musclebound men when I was so doughy and ashamed of my body? A walking plan was the first activity. When that became routine, I was ready for a gym, where a smart trainer engaged me in boxing training—a perfect sport for a woman who is feisty and over fifty. I’ve now become a gym regular and feel great. But of all the activities and methods I’ve employed to maintain a healthy lifestyle, nothing has been more important than working to make a difference in the lives of others with diabetes. When first diagnosed, I began to volunteer with a local chapter of a leading diabetes organisation. The words of encouragement and thanks I receive from others with diabetes has renewed my efforts to make a difference. By spreading the word about early testing, I am helping others, but I am also taking control of my own diabetes, my overall health, my life. What folks don’t know is that more than exercise, more than eating properly, connecting with others with type 2 diabetes has made the biggest difference for me. I’ve learned from others. I’ve been able to climb out of my own story and be of service. And that’s almost as delicious as ice cream.
Correspondence to: Carol Guber, c/o The Lancet
Carol Guber is the author of Carol Guber’s type 2 diabetes life plan (Broadway Books, 2002) and plays a national role in raising awareness about health and diabetes
Further reading American Diabetes Association complete guide to diabetes, 3rd edn. American Diabetes Association. Bantam, 2003. Johns Hopkins guide to diabetes for today and tomorrow. Christopher D Saudek, Richard R Rubin, Cynthia S Shump. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.
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