 worked out a lot—but my mom wasn't so sure. When she spotted some dark hair growing on my belly, she took me to another doctor.
This doctor ordered a battery of blood tests, which showed that I had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal and metabolic disorder that's often associated with insulin resistance. He put me on birth control pills to regulate my periods and gave me another drug, called spironolactone, to counteract the excessive amount of male hormones that my body was producing.
Everything seemed under control until two years ago. I started breaking out a lot and craving sweets all the time, which caused me to quickly gain about 20 pounds. I used to be really energetic and upbeat, and all of a sudden I was depressed, sluggish and really uncomfortable in my body.
Finally, an endocrinologist who specializes in PCOS diagnosed me with pre-diabetes. She encouraged me to cut down on refined carbs (like white bread, pasta and sweets) and to get more exercise. She also prescribed a slew of drugs, including metformin, which she said would help get my blood sugar under control.
I now take eight pills a day, which is more than my grandmother takes! But it's worth it: I've lost weight, have more energy, and feel more like my old self again.
"I was in denial"
Deborah Freeman, MD, MPH, 57, ob-gyn at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland
In 1995 I found out that not only did I have type 2 diabetes, but my blood sugar was in the 300s! [Normal is less than 100.] The doctor who diagnosed me gave me a shot of insulin right there in the office.
As a physician, I shouldn't have been shocked. I had gestational diabetes while I was pregnant with my second child 10 years before, and my weight had crept up to 205 pounds (I'm 5'5"). I was also starting to feel thirsty all the time and running to the bathroom. But I was too busy to worry about my health until I developed Bell's palsy (a temporary paralysis of half my face) and shingles. That's when I went to the doctor who diagnosed me with diabetes.
She prescribed oral medications and told me to limit carbohydrates, fat and alcohol. Within four years my blood sugar had improved enough that I no longer needed the medication, but I was still struggling with my weight and my blood pressure was too high.
The turning point came in 2003. I literally woke up one day and decided that I was done with dieting; I needed to make a permanent commitment to lead an overall healthier life. I joined a gym, hired a personal trainer, and started working out six days a week. I also revamped my eating habits: I started eating five small meals a day—mostly complex carbs (like salads and veggies) and lean protein (such as egg whites, chicken, turkey or fish).
Today I weigh in at a lean 130 pounds and my blood sugar is now in the 80s
or 90s. I even started competing in bodybuilding contests! I had never worn a bikini before, and now I'm competing in one in front of thousands of people.
"My hairdresser saw the warning signs"
Patty Kidd, 45, mother of two, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Two years ago, when the texture of my hair changed and patches starting falling out, I mostly worried about how I was going to look. But my hairstylist, Synia Jordan, made me realize that my health could be in danger.
I had been seeing Synia for nearly seven years, and we always talked about a lot more than my hair. I told her that
I had been diagnosed with diabetes in 1990, but that it was "only" type 2 and I was taking medications that would keep me healthy. I wasn't on insulin, and my kidneys weren't showing any signs of problems, so I didn't think it was a big deal. But when I started filling out a survey from Synia's program, I got nervous. (She had recently joined the National Kidney Foundation's Healthy Hair Starts with a Healthy Body program, which trains stylists to talk to clients about their risks of diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease.) I was doing everything wrong, from not eating as many vegetables as I should to not exercising enough. I also weighed about 190 pounds, and I'm only 5'3".
What really sca