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Rachel Is Ready for Her Makeover
Guidance and support from the healthcare professionals
This month, we hear from Rachel, who will tell us about the process she is going through right now.
Rachel, 55, works full time and is head deaconess for her church. One of 10 children who all have type 2 diabetes and have been overweight for years, she comes from a family ridden with diabetes and its complications.
Rachel says she has been heavy all of her life, her normal weight being about 220 pounds. It wasn’t until she weighed in at 236 pounds at her doctor’s office that she got really concerned.
Rachel understood the relationship of weight gain to type 2. She knew she had to lose weight for better management of her diabetes. She’d been to diabetes-management classes but couldn’t seem to put what she’d learned into action.
The Diabetes Makeover
Rachel wanted to make changes but didn’t have the strength to do so on her own. Then she received a telephone call from Becton-Dickinson. They offered her the opportunity to take part in their Diabetes Makeover program.
She agreed, understanding she’d have to do the hard work for herself, but she’d get guidance and support from the healthcare professionals in the BD program.
Rachel worked with a team of healthcare providers that included a physician, a nurse/CDE, a registered dietitian/CDE and an exercise physiologist. Interestingly, she also met with a professional organizer. We usually think of an organizer as someone who can help us manage our house, our closets or our office—but our weight? The organizer taught Rachel how to organize her everyday activities and her schedule so she had time for her new program in her daily life.
Rachel now eats breakfast every day and takes time to make healthier food choices. She says that eating small snacks between meals helps her to manage her hunger and keeps her from overeating at mealtimes. She now goes for walks and checks her blood glucose regularly. She has found time to take care of herself, and thus far she has lost 16 pounds.
Rachel’s Problem
“I wasn’t taking the time to care for myself. I knew what to
do, but I couldn’t fit it into my life.”
Rachel’s Reason
“My whole family has diabetes. I saw my mother and sister die of
complications. Getting that phone call from BD made me know that this is
what God wanted me to do.
What Was in Rachel’s Way?
“I was tired and disorganized.”
Rachel’s Method
“I worked with a team of healthcare professionals to design a
program just for me. What helped me the most was working with a
professional organizer who helped me put my program into practice in my
daily life.”
A Work in Progress—Rachel’s Numbers at Press Time
| Before | Now | |
|---|---|---|
| A1C | 13% | 10% |
| Total Cholesterol | 220250 | 140 |
| Weight | 236 | 221 |
Categories: A1c Test, Blood Glucose, Diabetes, Diabetes, Food, Losing weight, Personal Stories, Type 2 Issues, Weight Loss
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Diabetes Health is the essential resource for people living with diabetes- both newly diagnosed and experienced as well as the professionals who care for them. We provide balanced expert news and information on living healthfully with diabetes. Each issue includes cutting-edge editorial coverage of new products, research, treatment options, and meaningful lifestyle issues.
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