Former professional player Dmitri Young impressed the baseball world when he appeared at a game this summer, having lost about 100 pounds since he last played in 2010. His stunning transformation started with taking control of his type 2 diabetes. Young's story makes the perfect centerpiece for the January/February 2015 issue of Diabetes Forecast®, the Healthy Living Magazine of the American Diabetes Association, which is packed with tips for improving your health in the new year.
In Healthy Hitter, Young describes his diagnosis in November 2006—it took five days in intensive care to bring his blood glucose to normal levels—and his long path to wellness. The man who was once among the top 10 heaviest players in the history of baseball is now a model for diabetes management and positive thinking.
Young achieved and maintains his results through diet, exercise, an insulin regimen and a newfound commitment to sobriety. In the article he shares his best tips for other people with diabetes, including how to work through weight loss plateaus and how to find a support system.
As Young has learned, a diabetes diagnosis is profoundly life-changing. "When people look at forever, it sounds like a prison sentence. You don't see the light at the end of the tunnel," he says. "But for me, it's about feeling good."
Also in the January/February 2015 issue of Diabetes Forecast:
- Sleep tips that will help you wake up rested and refreshed.
- How a Sacramento news anchor handles type 1 diabetes on and off the air.
- Easy ways to organize your home for better health.
- Notes on living well from legendary entertainer Patti LaBelle.
- Three ways to enhance the way you cook in 2015.
Study finds regular physical activity slows biological aging in type 2 diabetes patients