Meet Martin on his resilient journey in managing diabetes

After learning healthy habits, he only wishes he started sooner.                                                     ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏  ‍͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ After learning healthy habits, he only wishes he started sooner. ~/AAQRxQA~/RgRog_P8P0QmaHR0cHM6Ly9kaWFiZXRlcy5vcmcvP2xpZD1jejI5eWZoMXJ2M3lXA3NwY0IKZqD8bqFmC_IXhFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODZAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAASo Dear Friend, In our ongoing series of sharing inspiring stories from our community, today we bring you the story of Martin E.C., whose journey with type 2 diabetes is a powerful reminder of the importance of proactive health care management and community support. [Read More Stories](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRog_P8P4QOAWh0dHBzOi8vZGlhYmV0ZXMub3JnL2RpYWJldGVzLWRpYWxvZ3VlP2xpZD13ZjU0bm9xZmpzZTkmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZS1pcC13YXJtaW5nLTA2MjYyMDI0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWxtJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PXJlYWQtbW9yZS1zdG9yaWVzLWJ0biZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249TUtUJnNfc3JjPWVtYWlsbSZzX3N1YnNyYz00NjM1JmJyYXplZXh0aWRoYXNoZWQ9MjFiMWE3N2JiMDQ3OGI2NjdhYzBjNmQyMmI0M2I4Njg2OTg2ODIyM2IwNDg5ZGVjMzJiMTAxNWRkZjQ5M2QyN1cDc3BjQgpmoPxuoWYL8heEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAABKg~) [Share Your Story](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRog_P8P4QRAWh0dHBzOi8vZGlhYmV0ZXMub3JnL2Jsb2cvc2hhcmUteW91ci1zdG9yeT9saWQ9OG5scjJzM2xpZ25hJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUtaXAtd2FybWluZy0wNjI2MjAyNCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsbSZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1zaGFyZS15b3VyLXN0b3J5LWJ0biZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249TUtUJnNfc3JjPWVtYWlsbSZzX3N1YnNyYz00NjM1JmJyYXplZXh0aWRoYXNoZWQ9MjFiMWE3N2JiMDQ3OGI2NjdhYzBjNmQyMmI0M2I4Njg2OTg2ODIyM2IwNDg5ZGVjMzJiMTAxNWRkZjQ5M2QyN1cDc3BjQgpmoPxuoWYL8heEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAABKg~) Meet Martin The Importance of Learning and Understanding Your Health Care Journey When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2008, I found myself unsure of how to move forward—how to make the necessary changes in my diet and lifestyle in order to confidently manage this condition. confidently manage this condition. In the last 15 years, I’ve experienced amputations of both my legs below the knee as well as the loss of 5 fingers to diabetes. I’ve received shots and laser treatments to try and address swelling in my retinas due to diabetes and now regularly receive dialysis. My A1C has gone down to six because of careful diet management and regular doctor’s visits, which include regular eye exams. Thanks to the hard work of providers like Dr. Daum with Alabama Lions Sight and the support from the American Diabetes Association® and Genentech, I’ve been able to lose weight, reduce the number of medications I need to take, and take an active part in my health. But it didn’t have to be this way, I wish someone had caught me when I was younger so I could make necessary lifestyle changes that I’d benefit from now. There are a lot of challenges that come with living with diabetes. Navigating insurance and Medicare, accessing the right doctors that will work for your health and your needs, and maintaining healthy patterns of diet and exercise are difficult, but it’s something we must do in order to stay healthy and avoid complications that can affect our quality of life, ability to work, and wellbeing. I can’t stress enough the importance of learning and understanding your health care journey—knowing what’s in your food, how carbohydrates convert to sugar, your sleeping habits, your exercise levels, getting screened for diabetes, and receiving regular eye exams —all of these play a critical role in your health. I want to see people avoid what I’m going through and access the care they need to take an active role in their health. Regular eye exams can identify problems early and prevent vision complications due to diabetes. Diet changes can have a lasting impact on your health and ability to produce insulin—don’t take a backseat when it comes to your health. Living with diabetes and its complications is not easy, but it’s not impossible. You can do it, you just have to take the first step. We hope Martin's story motivates you to engage actively in your health management or to support a loved one in their journey with diabetes. [Read More Stories](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRog_P8P4QOAWh0dHBzOi8vZGlhYmV0ZXMub3JnL2RpYWJldGVzLWRpYWxvZ3VlP2xpZD13c25sN2ppbmF3dnEmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZS1pcC13YXJtaW5nLTA2MjYyMDI0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWxtJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PXJlYWQtbW9yZS1zdG9yaWVzLWJ0biZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249TUtUJnNfc3JjPWVtYWlsbSZzX3N1YnNyYz00NjM1JmJyYXplZXh0aWRoYXNoZWQ9MjFiMWE3N2JiMDQ3OGI2NjdhYzBjNmQyMmI0M2I4Njg2OTg2ODIyM2IwNDg5ZGVjMzJiMTAxNWRkZjQ5M2QyN1cDc3BjQgpmoPxuoWYL8heEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAABKg~) [Share Your Story](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRog_P8P4QRAWh0dHBzOi8vZGlhYmV0ZXMub3JnL2Jsb2cvc2hhcmUteW91ci1zdG9yeT9saWQ9c3RuMXBvc2xmdjg3JnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUtaXAtd2FybWluZy0wNjI2MjAyNCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsbSZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1zaGFyZS15b3VyLXN0b3J5LWJ0biZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249TUtUJnNfc3JjPWVtYWlsbSZzX3N1YnNyYz00NjM1JmJyYXplZXh0aWRoYXNoZWQ9MjFiMWE3N2JiMDQ3OGI2NjdhYzBjNmQyMmI0M2I4Njg2OTg2ODIyM2IwNDg5ZGVjMzJiMTAxNWRkZjQ5M2QyN1cDc3BjQgpmoPxuoWYL8heEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAABKg~) Thank you for being a part of our community. Together, we can empower each other and make a significant impact. Sincerely, Your Friends at the American Diabetes Association® P.S. We support the millions of Americans living with diabetes every day. You’re not alone. Together, we’ll help you face your challenges. 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All rights reserved. askada@diabetes.org | 1-800-342-2383 Learn more at [diabetes.org](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRog_P8P0QmaHR0cHM6Ly9kaWFiZXRlcy5vcmcvP2xpZD01b3hqNTh5aG1jOXZXA3NwY0IKZqD8bqFmC_IXhFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODZAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAASo) [Unsubscribe](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRog_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~)