(BPT) - Erik Lofstrand never expected a routine physical to change his life. But when he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, Erik suddenly found himself navigating a life-changing condition.
"I went through all stages of grief," Erik said. "At first, I was in denial. I thought if I exercised more and ate healthier, it would just go away."
kAmp=E9@F89 96 >256 962=E9J =:76DEJ=6 492?86D[ >2?28:?8 9:D 8=F4@D6 DE:== 76=E =:<6 8F6DDH@C<] %C25:E:@?2= 7:?86CDE:4<D @776C65 @?=J D?2AD9@ED @7 :?7@C>2E:@?[ =62G:?8 9:> H:E9@FE 2 4=62C F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 9@H 9:D 52:=J 564:D:@?D :>A24E65 9:D 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D]k^Am
kAmQx 5:5?VE H2?E E@ 8F6DD — x H2?E65 :?7@C>2E:@? x 4@F=5 24EF2==J FD6[Q tC:< D2:5]k^Am
kAmtC:< 8C6H 7CFDEC2E65 E92E 5:6E 2?5 6I6C4:D6 2=@?6 H6C6?VE 8:G:?8 9:> E96 2?DH6CD 96 ?66565] pD D@>6@?6 H9@ 6>3C246D E649?@=@8J :? 2== 2DA64ED @7 9:D =:76 2?5 H@C<[ 96 3682? C6D62C49:?8 255:E:@?2= E@@=D 2?5 =62C?65 23@FE 4@?E:?F@FD 8=F4@D6 >@?:E@CD Wrv|DX]k^Am
kAmpD 96 6IA=@C65 9:D @AE:@?D[ tC:< C62=:K65 96 H@F=5 ?665 2 AC6D4C:AE:@? 2?5 2 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 9:D 5@4E@C E@ 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C 2 rv| H2D C:89E 7@C 9:>] pC>65 H:E9 H92E 96 =62C?65[ 96 H2D 23=6 E@ 92G6 2? :?7@C>65 2?5 DA64:7:4 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 9:D 5@4E@C[ 23@FE 9:D 8@2=D 2?5 5:236E6D >2?286>6?E] %@86E96C[ E96J 564:565 p33@EEVD uC66$EJ=6 {:3C6 b !=FD D6?D@C H2D 2 8@@5 7:E[ 6?23=:?8 9:> E@ 7@==@H 9:D 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D :? C62= E:>6 2?5 82:? :?D:89E :?E@ 9@H 9:D 7@@5 :?E2<6[ 24E:G:EJ 2?5 52:=J 923:ED 27764E65 9:D 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D]k^Am
kAmqJ E2<:?8 E96 :?:E:2E:G6 E@ 2D< 23@FE rv| E649?@=@8J[ tC:< H2D 23=6 E@ A=2J 2? 24E:G6 C@=6 :? 9:D 42C6 2?5 92G6 2? :?7@C>65[ 4@==23@C2E:G6 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 9:D 5@4E@C] w:D 6IA6C:6?46 C67=64ED 2 4@>>@? 32CC:6Ci C6D62C49 D9@HD E92E @?6 :? 7:G6 A6@A=6 =:G:?8 H:E9 5:236E6D 766= E96J ?665 E96:C 5@4E@C E@ DF886DE @C C64@>>6?5 ?6H E@@=D[ C2E96C E92? 766=:?8 6>A@H6C65 E@ 2D< 23@FE E9@D6 @AE:@?D E96>D6=G6DkDFAm`k^DFAm]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E :D 2 rv|nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp 4@?E:?F@FD 8=F4@D6 >@?:E@C Wrv|X[ =:<6 p33@EEVD uC66$EJ=6 {:3C6 b !=FD D6?D@C[ :D 2 D>2==[ 5:D4C66E D6?D@C H@C? @? E96 324< @7 J@FC FAA6C 2C> E92E 4@?E:?F@FD=J >62DFC6D J@FC 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D 6G6CJ >:?FE6[ 52J 2?5 ?:89EkDFAmak^DFAm] xE D6?5D 8=F4@D6 C625:?8D 5:C64E=J E@ 2 4@>A2E:3=6 D>2CEA9@?6 2AAkDFAmbk^DFAm @C C6256CkDFAmck^DFAm[ AC@G:5:?8 C62=\E:>6 :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 EC6?5D]k^Am
kAm#2E96C E92? C6=J:?8 @? 2 D:?8=6 8=F4@D6 C625:?8 @3E2:?65 7C@> AC:@C >6E9@5D =:<6 7:?86CDE:4<D[ 2 rv| AC@G:56D 2 4@>A=6E6 A:4EFC6 @7 9@H >62=D[ 24E:G:EJ 2?5 >65:42E:@? 27764E 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D @G6C E:>6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(9J DH:E49 E@ 2 rv|nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmu@C tC:<[ D66:?8 E9@D6 EC6?5D[ ?@E ;FDE :?5:G:5F2= ?F>36CD[ 82G6 9:> E96 :?D:89ED 96 ?66565 E@ >2<6 492?86D :? 9:D 52:=J C@FE:?6 E92E >256 2? :>A24E]k^Am
kAmQw2G:?8 2446DD E@ E9:D 52E2 :D 6>A@H6C:?8] xE 2==@HD >6 E@ >2?286 >J 5:236E6D AC@24E:G6=J 2?5 2G@:5 492==6?86D E92E 4@F=5 D6E >J H9@=6 52J @77 4@FCD6[Q D2:5 tC:<] Q|J rv| :D 2 9F86 C62D@? H9J x 766= >@C6 4@?7:56?E 2?5 :? 4@?EC@= @7 >J 962=E9]Qk^Am
kAm#6D62C49 4@?E:?F6D E@ 56>@?DEC2E6 E96 36?67:ED @7 rv| E649?@=@8J] x? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^233@]EE^c83=vA2Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmC646?E DEF5Jk^2m[ A6@A=6 H:E9 %JA6 a 5:236E6D FD:?8 2 rv| =@H6C65 E96:C w3p`4[ 2 <6J >2C<6C @7 3=@@5 DF82C =6G6=D[ 3J _]eT >@C6 E92? E9@D6 FD:?8 EC25:E:@?2= 7:?86CDE:4<D 2?5 DA6?E 23@FE a]d 255:E:@?2= 9@FCD 6249 52J :? 2 962=E9J 8=F4@D6 C2?86kDFAmek^DFAm]k^Am
kAm{:<6 tC:<[ >2?J A6@A=6 H:E9 5:236E6D 7:?5 E92E 92G:?8 4@?E:?F@FD 8=F4@D6 :?7@C>2E:@? 42? AC@G:56 2 4=62C6C F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 9@H 7@@5[ 24E:G:EJ 2?5 @E96C 52:=J 923:ED 27764E E96:C 8=F4@D6 =6G6=D[ 96=A:?8 E96> >2<6 >@C6 :?7@C>65 564:D:@?DkDFAmdk^DFAm]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H E@ E2=< E@ J@FC 5@4E@C 23@FE rv|k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx7 J@F @C D@>6@?6 J@F =@G6 :D =:G:?8 H:E9 %JA6 a 5:236E6D[ 4@?D:56C E2=<:?8 E@ 2 5@4E@C 23@FE @AE:@?D 2?5 H96E96C 2 rv| :D E649?@=@8J E@ 4@?D:56C] }@E DFC6 9@H E@ DE2CE E96 4@?G6CD2E:@?n r964< @FE E96D6 96=A7F= E:ADik^Am
k@=mk=:mkDEC@?8ms@ J@FC 9@>6H@C<ik^DEC@?8m {62C? 23@FE 2G2:=23=6 rv| @AE:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C66DEJ=6]233@EE^FD\6?^9@>6]9E>=n84=:5l5gd246a_72cc`72ee`dh2c3_`76a3`3cU2>Aj84=DC4lbA]5DU2>AjU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lq:?8U2>AjFE>0>65:F>l$t|U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lqC2?5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?ElqC2?5U2>AjFE>0E6C>l#$pU2>Aj84=:5l5gd246a_72cc`72ee`dh2c3_`76a3`3cU2>Aj84=DC4lbA]5DU2>Aj>D4=<:5l5gd246a_72cc`72ee`dh2c3_`76a3`3cQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmp33@EEVD {:3C6 DJDE6>Dk^2m[ D@ J@F 42? 2D< :?7@C>65 BF6DE:@?D 2?5 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 9@H E96 E649?@=@8J H@C<D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m{62C? 9@H rv| H@C<Dik^DEC@?8m pD< J@FC 5@4E@C 23@FE E96 G2=F6 rv|D AC@G:56 2?5 9@H E96J 42? 96=A J@F 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 J@FC 8=F4@D6 A2EE6C?D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m$92C6 J@FC 8@2=Dik^DEC@?8m %2=< H:E9 J@FC 5@4E@C 23@FE H92E J@FV5 =:<6 E@ 249:6G6[ H96E96C E92EVD F?56CDE2?5:?8 9@H 7@@5 27764ED J@FC 8=F4@D6[ C65F4:?8 C@FE:?6 7:?86CDE:4<D @C 766=:?8 >@C6 4@?7:56?E :? J@FC 52:=J 923:ED]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8ms:D4FDD J@FC 492==6?86Dik^DEC@?8m q6 @A6? 23@FE H92EVD 5:77:4F=E H96? >2?28:?8 J@FC 8=F4@D6 E@52J 2?5 2D< 23@FE :?DFC2?46 4@G6C286 2?5 2G2:=23=6 DFAA@CE AC@8C2>D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mu:?5 E96 C:89E 7:E E@86E96Cik^DEC@?8m |2?28:?8 5:236E6D :D 2 E62> 677@CE] %2=< H:E9 J@FC 5@4E@C 23@FE H96E96C 2 rv| 2=:8?D H:E9 J@FC :?5:G:5F2= ?665D[ EC62E>6?E 8@2=D 2?5 =:76DEJ=6]k^=:mk^@=m
kAmu@C tC:<[ E2<:?8 E92E 7:CDE DE6A E@ 2D< 9:D 5@4E@C 23@FE 2 rv| 492?865 E96 H2J 96 =:G6D H:E9 5:236E6D]k^Am
k5:G DEJ=6lQ>2I\H:5E9i e__AIj H:5E9i e__AIjQmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3C2?5A@:?E4@?E6?E]4@>^:>286D^h5_2a36b\ac_7\cc3e\2b`_\hbagc_27dfce];A8Q 2=ElQtC:< 2E 2 76DE:G2=]Q H:5E9lQe__Q 3@C56ClQ_Q ^mk^5:Gm
k5:G 4=2DDlQ{:DE:4=6r2AE:@?Q DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i ``AIjQmk^5:Gm
kAmQ%2=<:?8 E@ >J 5@4E@C 23@FE 2 rv| H2D @?6 @7 E96 36DE 564:D:@?D x >256 27E6C >J 5:28?@D:D[Q tC:< D2:5] QxV> 962=E9:6C ?@H E92? xVG6 6G6C 366?] *@F 42?VE >2?286 H92E J@F 42?VE >62DFC6 — 52E2 :D A@H6C] %96 >@C6 J@F F?56CDE2?5 J@FC 5:236E6D[ E96 >@C6 J@F 42? E2<6 492C86 @7 J@FC =:76]Qk^Am
kAm%@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE rv|D 2?5 p33@EEVD {:3C6 DJDE6>D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C66DEJ=6]233@EE^FD\6?^9@>6]9E>=n84=:5l5gd246a_72cc`72ee`dh2c3_`76a3`3cU2>Aj84=DC4lbA]5DU2>AjU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lq:?8U2>AjFE>0>65:F>l$t|U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lqC2?5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?ElqC2?5U2>AjFE>0E6C>l#$pU2>Aj84=:5l5gd246a_72cc`72ee`dh2c3_`76a3`3cU2>Aj84=DC4lbA]5DU2>Aj>D4=<:5l5gd246a_72cc`72ee`dh2c3_`76a3`3cQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm4=:4< 96C6k^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 G:6HD 6IAC6DD65 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 FD65 7@C >65:42= 5:28?@D:D @C EC62E>6?E @C 2D 2 DF3DE:EFE6 7@C AC@76DD:@?2= >65:42= 25G:46] x?5:G:5F2= DJ>AE@>D[ D:EF2E:@?D 2?5 4:C4F>DE2?46D >2J G2CJ]k^Am
k@=mk=:ms2E2 @? 7:=6[ p33@EE s:236E6D r2C6]k^=:mk=:me_\>:?FE6 H2C>\FA C6BF:C65 H96? 2AA=J:?8 E96 D6?D@C]k^=:mk=:m%96 uC66$EJ=6 {:3C6 DJDE6>D 2AAD 2C6 @?=J 4@>A2E:3=6 H:E9 46CE2:? >@3:=6 56G:46D 2?5 @A6C2E:?8 DJDE6>D] !=62D6 4964< @FC H63D:E6 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE 56G:46 4@>A2E:3:=:EJ 367@C6 FD:?8 E96 2AAD] &D6 @7 E96 uC66$EJ=6 {:3C6 DJDE6>D 2AAD >2J C6BF:C6 C68:DEC2E:@? H:E9 {:3C6':6H]k^=:mk=:mu@C &]$] C6D:56?ED \ %96 uC66$EJ=6 {:3C6 DJDE6>D 2AAD 2?5 E96 uC66$EJ=6 {:3C6 DJDE6>D C6256CD 92G6 D:>:=2C 3FE ?@E :56?E:42= 762EFC6D] u:?86CDE:4<D 2C6 C6BF:C65 7@C EC62E>6?E 564:D:@?D H96? J@F D66 r964< q=@@5 v=F4@D6 DJ>3@= 2?5 H96? J@FC 8=F4@D6 2=2C>D 2?5 C625:?8D 7C@> E96 DJDE6> 5@ ?@E >2E49 DJ>AE@>D @C 6IA64E2E:@?D]k^=:mk=:mu@<<6CE[ |2C:@?[ 6E 2=] Qx>AC@G65 (6==\q6:?8 2?5 s64C62D65 s:D62D6 qFC56? p7E6C `\*62C &D6 @7 u=2D9 v=F4@D6 |@?:E@C:?8 Wu{p#t\}{cX]Q k6>mq|y ~A6? s:236E6D #6D62C49 U2>Aj r2C6k^6>m f[ ?@] ` Wa_`hXi 6___g_h] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``be^3>;5C4\a_`h\___g_hQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``be^3>;5C4\a_`h\___g_hk^2m]k^=:mk=:m(:=>@E tv] {2?46E s:236E6D t?5@4C:?@= Wa_aeX] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^$aa`b\gdgfWaeX___fe\gQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^$aa`b\gdgfWaeX___fe\gk^2mk^=:mk^@=m
kAmu@C &]$] C6D:56?ED \ x>A@CE2?E $276EJ x?7@C>2E:@? !C@5F4E 7@C AC6D4C:AE:@? @?=J[ 7@C x>A@CE2?E $276EJ x?7@C>2E:@? A=62D6 G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C66DEJ=6]233@EE^FD\6?^D276EJ\:?7@C>2E:@?]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmuC66$EJ=6{:3C6]FDk^2m]k^Am
kAmpsr\aehfbh` G`]_k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.