Fitness instructor with type 2 diabetes? – Meet our model Dex!

1. What were your biggest fears/concerns when you were diagnosed with diabetes? 

My biggest fear and concern when I was diagnosed was losing a limb through uncontrolled blood sugar, which would prevent me from doing my favorite activities. I’ve seen it happen so many times with my relatives that I felt like there’s no way to prevent it from happening to me.

2. What’s the hardest part/biggest struggle for you in living with diabetes day-to-day?

My biggest struggle for me living with diabetes day-to-day is keeping up my energy levels. I am a personal trainer and my clients look to me to provide them with energy and encouragement. Managing diabetes and going through the highs and lows of blood sugar management can leave me completely drained some days. Not only that but sometimes it makes it hard to have a social life with people who don't understand what I am going through.

3. What piece of advice would you give to a person who is newly diagnosed with diabetes? 

The advice I would give a person newly diagnosed with diabetes is just like their blood sugar that there will be highs and lows and not get discouraged or frustrated when to the point where you want to give up. There will always be better days and remember that there's millions of people going through what you’re going through so you are not alone in the fight for better blood sugar management.

4. Is there a phrase/statement about diabetes that drives you crazy?

“But you have abs, how could you have diabetes?” 

5. When you think of the word “freedom” in terms of diabetes, what does that mean to you? What would make you feel more free?

“Freedom” in terms of diabetes for me would mean freedom from having to check my levels before I do certain activities or just having to check my blood sugar level in general. I would feel more free if I didn't have restrictions on what I could eat which would make my social life more fun when going out with my friends or on dates.