Elevate Your Health Colorado A personal journey to control diabetes

Terry McMaster, 59, is proof that bad habits can catch up with you. He’s also proof that a personal commitment to live healthier can truly be life-changing. “For years, I was basically neglecting myself,” Terry says. “One diagnosis changed all of that.”

A self-proclaimed junk-food addict, long-time smoker, and couch potato, Terry avoided doctors whenever possible. But in April 2008, during a routine health exam, his Kaiser Permanente internal medicine physician, Dr. Deb Friesen, suspected Terry’s lifestyle could be compromising his health.  She tested his blood-glucose levels and discovered he had type 2 diabetes.

Terry’s first thought was: “I’ve been misdiagnosed.” His second:  “I don’t want to take any medication.” But as reality sunk in, he realized that ultimately he controlled his health destiny. Changes were in order.

Guidance from the experts

“My mother suffered from type 1 diabetes her whole life. I recall what taking lots of medication did to her, and vowed that wouldn’t be me,” Terry says.

At the time of diagnosis, Terry’s A1C levels were so elevated that taking medication was inevitable. Dr. Friesen prescribed Terry the following: take oral medication twice per day, develop a healthy diet and exercise plan, check your blood-sugars daily, and attend Kaiser Permanente’s diabetes education classes.

“After going through the classes and listening to other people’s struggles with diabetes, I was a little worried,” Terry recalls. “I thought I better start taking things a little more seriously.”

Finding motivation

Although Terry had support from his diabetes care team, the onus was on him to take control of his health. He started with making over his diet and exercise regimen. No more lazy nights spent in front of the television and no more large spaghetti dinners.

“I started walking for 30 minutes, six days per week,” Terry recalls. “I also eliminated all junk food. I eat a lot of fruits, salads, and lean chicken. Sure, I still eat pasta, but it’s less often, and the portions are much smaller.”

Next, he started a routine of checking and recording his blood-glucose levels twice daily to determine how even subtle changes in his diet or activity level affected the numbers. For example, skipping a walk causes spikes, while skipping a meal might lower it.

A year-and-a-half after Dr. Friesen gave Terry the diabetes diagnosis, she was sharing the good news that his blood-sugar levels had returned to normal. “Today, I don’t have to take any medication,” Terry says. “I have so much more energy, and I’ve lost about 40 pounds.”

Although she offered guidance, Dr. Friesen believes Terry saved his own life.

“It’s really hard to change your life; it takes a significant commitment,” she says. “Terry not only made a change, he’s maintained it, which is great. I’m glad I could see that transformation.”

Watch Terry share how he changed his life for the better after being diagnosed with diabetes.

Learn how to prevent and better manage diabetes at kp.org.