Wall of Honor Patient Success Stories
Dan Falcone is usually an upbeat and positive person but struggled with his type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and the shock, fear, and sadness that came with it. After 10 years of taking oral medication, his weight and A1C were both heading in the wrong direction … up. He was put on insulin by his primary care physician in Ohio, where he resides, but felt he needed more treatment planning. Then Dan reconnected with his high school friend, David Harlan, MD. Dan makes annual visits to UMass Memorial and remains in frequent contact with Dr. Harlan, who communicates with his primary care physician in Ohio. He has lost 50 pounds (and counting), and his A1C dropped from over 11 percent down to 6.7. Taking a new mix of oral medications and a weekly injection, he is no longer on daily insulin! Wearing a pedometer, Dan walks at least 10,000 steps every day. He is highly motivated by the progress he has made. “I want to live,” Falcone shared. “My weight loss has been slow and steady, which makes it sustainable.” He is “enjoying the process” and can “feel a sense of accomplishment.” Although he still enjoys his favorite foods, he does so in moderation. Dan has reduced his meal portions to “one sensible plate” and is conscious about what he eats. “I’m Italian, so I like my spaghetti and meatballs, but now I enjoy them once a month or every six weeks as a treat.” As for eating at restaurants, “It’s possible to make smart choices. Grilled instead of fried. If I do enjoy a cheat meal, I plan for it.” Dan hopes that his story can inspire others to make a difference in their lives. “If I can do it…anybody can do it.”
If I can Do It … Anybody Can Do It
Frank Caputo thought it was a bad case of the flu that was making him exhausted, thirsty and lethargic. It was in the emergency department where he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D). “My blood sugars were over 800, and the doctors told me I was very close to a coma or diabetic shock,” said Caputo. With two college-aged children, a demanding job with a long commute, not getting enough sleep, and little to no exercise, and a diet that wasn’t the healthiest, Frank was not helping himself. “When taking care of others, we tend to neglect ourselves,” he said. “We must be proactive with our health, not reactive. This was definitely a wake-up call for me.”
More Energy, Motivation and Improved Mental Acuity
Under the care of Asem Ali, MD, and certified diabetes educators at UMass Memorial Medical Center, and after a lot of research, Frank has drastically improved his health and well-being. Within six months, he’s lost 55 pounds and dropped his A1C from over 13 percent to below 6 percent. He is no longer taking insulin and he walks at least 5 miles every day. “At work, when others take a coffee break, I walk around the building.” Small meals/snacks throughout day, healthier choices, walking five miles each day and a CPAP machine have contributed to his success. “Frank was determined to make every change necessary to improve his glucose control in addition to simply taking medication.” said Dr. Ali. “My network of support is huge,” said Caputo. “My UMass Memorial has taught me what I need to be doing. My wife, children and co-workers have been extremely supportive.” “It’s not just one thing, it’s a cumulative process,” Caputo said. “I have more energy, motivation and improved mental acuity.” Taking action has literally added years to his life. “I feel like I did when I was 20 years old.”
Bruno Graizzaro remembers how his father and grandmother lived with the horrible complications of unchecked and untreated diabetes. “My family is a great motivator for me to stay healthy,” he said. His physician at the Diabetes Center of Excellence, David Harlan, MD, said “When I met Bruno, he was taking 100 units of insulin each day with suboptimal glycemia control. With several lifestyle modifications over the past 18 months, he has lost more than 50 pounds, has come off insulin and other diabetes medications, and now has great blood glucose control.” Bruno also sleeps better now, has more energy and is hardly recognizable from the man that first walked into the clinic. “Knowledge is king,” he says. Moderate exercise and cutting back on carbohydrates has allowed him to remain vigilant in fighting the disease. “If you desperately want Mom’s apple pie, go ahead and have it. Just don’t combine it with a plate of French fries and a large soda,” Bruno said with a smile. He recommends people with diabetes test their blood sugar often, weigh themselves regularly and limit the amount of carbs they eat. “Do not think you are a failure if you have a bad day. Just get back to it.” Bruno loves that Dr. Harlan listens to his patients and works with them instead of dictating to them when it comes to diabetes management. “Besides his overall intelligence, Dr. Harlan is an extremely compassionate person,” he says. “I genuinely feel that he cares that I succeed.” Bruno stressed that people living with diabetes must keep fighting, listen to test results and never give up. “It is a quiet disease, but your tests will always tell you how you are doing.”
Knowledge is King
More Energy and Feeling Better
Barbara Barton had been treated by a number of doctors for her diabetes, however, her A1C spiraled out of control. Her blood glucose levels would spike very high and fall very low. She felt lethargic and sick all the time. Barbara moved her care to the UMass Memorial Diabetes Center of Excellence in November 2011. It was not until a long talk with Dr. Harlan, that something clicked. He said, “I suggest you decide that you will get (your diabetes) under control, not that you will try.” She made changes to her eating habits and began to experience positive results. Starting with a 10 percent or higher A1C, Barbara saw that number drop with every follow-up appointment, until she brought her A1C down to 6.7 percent! As her A1C dropped, insulin doses were reduced, and she saw more consistent blood sugar levels. She gained much more energy and began feeling better, which inspired her to continue the new healthy lifestyle. Barbara has lost 30 pounds and joined a gym. She credits her success to Dr. Harlan, adding that “his gentle way and caring nature is one of a kind.” Barbara found his suggestion helpful, to remove temptation by not purchasing food that she shouldn’t eat, so it’s not in the house. She follows a regimented eating schedule and checks her blood glucose levels several times a day. Administering her own insulin shots helps her to feel in control of her diabetes. Her advice to others with diabetes is to take it seriously, make necessary lifestyle changes and stick with them. Barbara hopes to inspire others by letting them know that better blood glucose control will result in overall improved health and well-being.
Focuses His Scientific Career on Finding the Cure for Diabetes David Blodgett is unique among the DCOE patients. He has a PhD in biomedical sciences, is a faculty member at Babson College and a research scientist at the UMass Medical School. His journey began as a child diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 3. Today, he's a happy and healthy adult who focuses his scientific career on finding the cure for diabetes. “I don’t remember not having it,” David said about diabetes. He perceives it as a disease that can be managed and controlled if people “stay on top of it.” He remembers the old diabetes technology of test strips and early meters. That's why David is a big fan of new diabetes technology, especially pumps and CGMs, which “make it easier to predict what is going to happen and to know what is happening.” David has worn a pump since middle school and progressively taken more control of his diabetes, his eating habits and especially his athletic endeavors. He never felt deprived of sports, travel, and fun activities as a child, and he certainly doesn’t feel that way today. Dr. Blodgett focuses his research energy on studying pancreatic beta cells and what makes them different. His work is instrumental to the breakthrough scientific discoveries at the DCOE.
At 26 years of age, Donald Blette was a healthy young man who enjoyed playing softball and umpiring. Suddenly he began to feel lethargic, thirsty, and lightheaded, and went to see his doctor. Donald’s blood glucose was over 600, and he was immediately sent to the hospital, diagnosed with what they called at the time, juvenile diabetes. His life was “flipped upside down” and “changed forever.” He learned how to check his blood glucose throughout the day and give himself injections of insulin. At age 56, Donald transitioned from shots to an insulin pump, which he calls “life changing.” If he is experiencing highs and/or lows, he checks in with his care team at the Diabetes Center of Excellence. “The older you get, your body changes,” he said. “I keep on top of it by checking my sugar levels all day long.”
Always Call With Questions or Concerns
A few years ago, Donald moved his diabetes care to UMass Memorial. “They all have been very helpful. They take their time with me, which I appreciate.” He sees Dr. Nina Rosano and nurse practitioner Nancy Sidhom. “If my sugar gets out of control with highs or lows, I call Nancy. She will see me and make adjustments to my pump as needed.” “We are very proud of Donald,” says Dr. Rosano. “His perseverance pays off. Despite Donald’s tremendous experience with diabetes, he always calls us if he has questions or a concern about his blood sugars. I hope his positive story and his personal example will move other patients to stay closely connected with their medical team. We are here for you and always ready to help.”
Working on a TED Talk Proposal Aimed on Sharing Her Experiences
Julie Kozlowski was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 3. A year later, she experienced a low-sugar seizure which resulted in temporary paralysis. After that experience, Julie began struggling to manage her diabetes. Then she transitioned from a pediatric patient to an adult and succeeded in reaching and maintaining her blood glucose goals. Gaining new knowledge and new understanding of diabetes as an adult, including studying the history of diabetes research and going to Toronto on a “diabetes trip,” Julie is now working on a TED Talk proposal aiming to share her experiences with hyperand hypo-glycemia. She is particularly interested in conveying the sensory changes caused by low sugars, such as the sensation of your “brain shutting down,” distorted vision and hearing, etc. Julie is very grateful to “her team” consisting of Dr. Harlan, Dr. Thompson and her diabetes educator.
Karen Wright was diagnosed with diabetes in 2003 while living in Florida. With an A1C over 13 percent, Karen felt weak and tired and was underweight. After moving back to the area in 2012, she began receiving care at the UMass Memorial Diabetes Center of Excellence. Her A1C is currently at 7.2 percent, and she credits her care team with “going above and beyond.” Karen doesn’t hesitate to call Dr. Malkani and her team between scheduled appointments. “They are second to none. Supportive, caring, and always available when I have questions or concerns,” she says. “I feel like I now have more control over managing my diabetes than ever before.” Karen acknowledges a very common frustration in the fact that diabetes can change from day-to-day, even when you are doing everything you are supposed to. “We have good days and bad days. Diabetes can be insidious. No matter how discouraged you get, you must stay proactive with your own care.” In addition to regular blood glucose testing throughout the day and multiple insulin injections, Karen credits a healthy diet and staying active as the key to her successful diabetes management. “Incorporating these needs into my daily schedule has helped it to become routine.” Her motivation to stay healthy is that it helps to “better manage life’s adventures and stresses,” and allows her to enjoy her children and grandchildren.
Stay Proactive With Your Own Care
Doesn’t Allow Diabetes To Stand in the Way U.S. Olympian and four-time National Figure Skating Champion, Kitty Carruthers, doesn’t allow diabetes to stand in the way of her life. With determination to succeed perfected in international competitions, Kitty also is determined to succeed in staying healthy. “Figure skating is about life lessons,” Kitty says. “It teaches you to get up after you have fallen.” She insists on healthy living, joking “I’m lucky, I love good food.” Kitty has always wanted to stay healthy, enjoy her family and continue being an athlete. She acknowledges that diabetes is a chronic disease. “There are days when I watch other people eating doughnuts and cake. Life is unfair, and sometimes I have a little pity party.” Kitty takes her health very seriously, and eating healthy and exercising is the only option. As an elite athlete, she has first-hand experience with the self-discipline required for athletic achievement. Her diabetes progressed from gestational diabetes to a more severe form that had to be managed with insulin. For 10 years, she went to doctors in Houston but was not satisfied. Kitty’s long-time physician and beloved family friend was one of UMass Medical School's most celebrated faculty and physicians, Dr. Arthur Pappas. He recommended that Kitty move her diabetes care to UMass Memorial Medical Center, to Dr. David Harlan. She has been off of insulin for two and a half years now and feels very good about her health. Kitty admits that Dr. Harlan was the first physician who truly cared about her as a person. “He changed my life being able to live without insulin; I feel so much better off of it.”
Believe in Optimism, in Happiness, in the Power of Spirit Nicole Johnson won the Miss America title in 1999. She became the first Miss America with diabetes and the first contestant to publicize the use of an insulin pump. Today, Nicole is a nationally recognized advocate for diabetes research and education, national director of the JDRF mission, and one of the biggest supporters of the UMass Memorial Diabetes Center of Excellence. A champion of healthy living, she has published seven books related to diabetes, including several cookbooks. Telling her story to Tampa Bay Times, Johnson emphasized: “Every day, I am grateful for all these people and the many medical advances in diabetes care that benefit me. But constant vigilance in the face of dire consequences brings a complex psychological turmoil into daily living. It is all too easy to slip into depression, discontent, chronic sadness and to have a defeated attitude. I fight it daily. Yet I believe in optimism, in happiness, in the power of spirit and in the power of relationships. Science supports this notion. A positive attitude leads to better quality of life, and that means better outcomes.�
Not Alone in Her Battle Against Diabetes Sandy has been living with type 1 diabetes for 34 years. Her competitive nature was evident as a successful collegiate softball player. She continues to play softball and also has been coaching for the past six years. In addition to competing on the field, Sandy battles her diabetes every single day. She is motivated to control her diabetes and not let it define her. After many years, Sandy finally agreed to use an insulin pump, for which she credits the healthy birth of her three children. Years later, she finally agreed to using a continuous glucose monitor, which she calls “a game changer.” Sandy’s determination to control her diabetes was fueled ten years ago, when her middle child was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four. She stays connected with others living with type 1 diabetes through the online community, Glu, where she offers and receives wisdom and support. Sandy acknowledges that some days may be better than others, however, diabetes requires diligence and “takes no days off.” Sandy credits the UMass Memorial Diabetes Center of Excellence staff who “truly understands how difficult diabetes management can be and respects those of us living with it everyday.” When she first met Dr. Harlan, he requested permission to enter her cell number into his phone. She agreed, never thinking he would use it. However, the day after she started a new medication, she received a call from Dr. Harlan. He wanted to see how she was managing. Sandys says it was during that conversation with Dr. Harlan that she finally began to feel that she was not alone in her battle against diabetes. For that, she will be forever grateful.
Diabetes Shaped Her Into the Person She Is Today
Sophia Binici was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 12 years old. At first she struggled with accepting her diagnosis and all of the changes that came along with it. Now she feels her experience with diabetes has brought out her strengths and shaped her into the person she is today. In high school she proved that diabetes has no limits when she became the first girl in her school’s history to play and score points for the otherwise all-boys varsity football team. “It was a challenge to manage my blood sugars,” she remembers. Sophia stayed active throughout college earning a minor in dance while juggling biology classes, working and volunteering. She has spent the last 10 summers at the camps run by the Barton Center for Diabetes Education Inc. in Oxford and Charlton, MA. She started there as a camper but has since grown to work as a counselor, health care team member and even on their administrative team. Camp taught Sophia how to be more confident in herself, become a stronger leader, and has inspired her to work with children with diabetes as a career. She loves getting to be a role model and “watching kids gain the confidence to try new things, whether it’s trying a new injection site or learning to change their site all by themselves.” Sophia is currently working at UMass Medical School as a clinical research assistant. She hopes to one day become a pediatric endocrinologist or diabetes educator so that she can help children through the challenges of growing up with diabetes.