Meet Owen: How Movement Helped Him Manage His Type 2 Diabetes

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in early 2004. Hearing it was devastating and I slumped into a deep depression which caused me to try to tune out my prognosis. I was in denial. Instead of treating it, I continued my unhealthy ways. My weight ballooned to as high as 305 lbs. and my A1C was 13 in 2012! This was a wake-up call. 

I hesitantly joined a gym, now EŌS Fitness, in late 2012. I worked out every other day until one day I heard music coming from the group fitness room and joined a fitness class. I was hooked and saw my weight drop and started feeling better. Within a year, I was a regular attendee until a few instructors convinced me to start training as an instructor. I just celebrated my 11^th year teaching classes and motivating people to be more active and fit.

This change in lifestyle has truly saved my life, but my diabetes wasn’t going away. I had to take pills and insulin to keep it in control. It’s still a battle everyday but tolerable with diet and an active lifestyle. I wish medicine, such as insulin and GLP-1, was not so expensive. I’ve been taking Mounjaro for 2 years now and that kept my blood sugar under control. It’s way too expensive unless you have great insurance. I just wish that back when I was diagnosed my primary care physician would have told me the danger of this disease to your other organs. I’m currently having kidney issues due to those years of neglect and not getting enough information about the danger of an out-of-control blood sugar. I’m diagnosed with CKD stage 3. It’s stable at the moment due to change of diet and medication. 

To others just diagnosed, it’s not a death sentence. You have the will and ability to control the disease. There are new medicines and treatments available that were not developed in 2004. So many resources and tools to help control the disease. People should understand that this disease can also cause serious issues with your eyes, kidneys, heart, and liver. I wish that I was informed back in 2004, and I have taken this information seriously and have a better understanding of the disease.