With diabetes increasing at an alarming rate in the United States, Diabetes Awareness Day® it’s meant to be a daily “wake-up call” to the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk. The sooner you know your risk, the sooner you can take steps to prevent or even learn to manage the disease. Just ask 35-year-old Crystal Gonzalez who says she knew something was wrong when she felt thirsty all the time.
“I started to feel like my body was the Sahara desert,” explains the busy single mom, whose mother was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 54 after suffering from extreme thirst, high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia.
“I know there’s a genetic link to diabetes, so I was worried,” says Crystal, who went to see her primary care doctor who found her blood sugar level was above 500 mg/dL, a reading considered dangerous high. . Her hemoglobin A1C, a blood test that measures average blood sugar levels over 3 months, was 11.5%, and normal A1C is 5.7% or lower. Crystal’s suspicion was correct. She had developed type 2 diabetes and was told she would need to take steps to change her metabolic health.
Crystal is one of more than 1.4 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes each year. Many experts agree that type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic in this country, with consequences that can include heart attacks, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, amputations and more.
Chronic high blood sugar levels from eating certain foods can change your body’s ability to use insulin properly, leading to type 2 diabetes.
In Crystal’s case, she says she grew up enjoying the many delicious dishes of her Puerto Rican heritage, which include lots of rice, potatoes and other starches, which are rich in carbohydrates, which the body converts to sugar.
We have a vibrant and delicious food culture, but sometimes that means too many starches and an abundance of food.”
Crystal Gonzalez
She made an appointment with an endocrinologist and began looking into other ways to manage her diabetes. Coincidentally, her place of worship, Agape Christian Ministry in Paterson, NJ, hosted a women’s conference in May that included staff and information from the MOLLY Diabetes Education and Management Center for Adults and Children at Hackensack University Medical Center.
“At that point I was very upset and not sure what to do to manage my diabetes,” Crystal said. “I got one of the MOLLY Center speaker cards and scheduled an appointment and about 20 days later on May 30 I had my first appointment,” she says.
“Just before I went to the MOLLY Center, I went to a buffet dinner party. Everything looked like it was starchy, with so many pastas to choose from,” Crystal said. “I felt like I couldn’t eat anything and I almost cried. I felt like food was the enemy. Being introduced to the MOLLY Center really came at the right time for me and my health.
The MOLLY Center offers an unparalleled approach to the treatment and management of diabetes, including a wide range of support services and the latest treatments for a healthy and fulfilling life. The team consists of HUMC endocrinologists, licensed clinical social workers and certified medical assistants, as well as registered nurses and registered dietitians who are board certified specialists in diabetes care and education.
“Over time I have learned so much from the dietitians at the MOLLY Center. They have taught me that diabetes affects the whole body and that it is much more than just eating a lot of sugar. I have learned how to read food labels and information on packaging ” said Crystal. “They taught me that food is not the enemy, but I had the ability to critically evaluate what I was going to eat, that I needed to eat more protein and vegetables, drink more water, and yes, while I needed to cut back on carbs and sugary foods, I haven’t had to cut anything out completely. It’s all about moderation.”
He also learned that type 2 diabetes is manageable with the right course of action and that type 1 has a small genetic component. “I have antibodies for type 1 diabetes, but my condition is very responsive to diet and exercise, which gives me hope,” she says, “both for me and my daughter. “I learned that type 2 is not necessarily transmitted through blood, but through fork,” he joked.
Crystal says she has changed her diet significantly, and although she can eat a slice of her favorite food, pizza, every now and then, she knows she just can’t do it every day. She said she also learned how to count carbohydrates in food. For example, half a cup of rice has about 15 grams of carbohydrates, which is acceptable for one serving. The food itself isn’t bad, he said, but portion control is so important.
In addition to managing her diet, she has learned some behavioral techniques to reduce calories and weight. One eats more slowly and concentrates on the food. “When we have meals now in my family, we sit at the table and talk, with no other activity. We focus on the food, eat slowly and really enjoy it. It makes a difference to appreciate the food and the moment first and also to eat more deliberately and less.”
She also tries to walk for at least half an hour or more after dinner, which not only helps her body and metabolism, but is also a treat for her dog, Taco.
So what are the results of Crystal’s determination to manage type 2 diabetes? Her A1C level drops from 11.5% to 6.5%. She has lost 32 pounds and her weight loss resulted in her losing fat, but not muscle.
“I still have a lot of work to do and I want to lose another 35 pounds and continue to lower my blood sugar,” says Crystal, “but I really feel like I’ve turned my diabetes around and I couldn’t have done it without help from the MOLLY Center”.
This Diabetes Awareness Day, know your risk by clicking here to perform a 60-second risk assessment.
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