That afternoon in my doctor’s office was a defining moment in my life. Things have never been the same since.
As the president & CEO of Diabetes Canada, Laura Syron is no stranger to diabetes. But when she was first diagnosed with type 2 at a routine checkup just before turning 50, learning that she had diabetes came with feelings of shock and shame.
“What I felt most intensely was shame. ‘I must have done something wrong. There was no diabetes in my family. This must be my fault,’ ” recalls Laura. “I didn’t want anyone to know. That’s how strong the stigma can be.”
Laura knows she’s far from alone. “Right now, four million others across the country are living with a diabetes diagnosis, too. Diabetes is so prevalent in Canada that someone will be diagnosed every three minutes,” she says.
In the time it takes to read this article, several more people will receive the same news as Laura did. That’s where Dr. Diana Sherifali is taking action–and offering hope with her work.
In recent clinical trials, Dr. Sherifali and a team of researchers tested a combination of medications, insulin and lifestyle interventions for people diagnosed with diabetes. She found that up to 40 per cent of participants did not require any diabetes medications for several months after undergoing a four-month program.
“We now have strong evidence to demonstrate that type 2 diabetes remission is a viable option for some candidates. It could change the way we manage diabetes in Canada, and one day offer some people better options at the primary care level,” says Dr. Sherifali, a Diabetes Canada-funded researcher.
With more support and a personalized approach to management, Dr. Sherifali imagines that people like Laura could feel empowered instead of ashamed or frightened.
“Perhaps newly diagnosed individuals could receive a toolkit. And that toolkit means a multimodal approach of medications, intensive nutrition counselling from a registered dietitian, physical activity support and counselling, and then health coaching,” she says. “And I think that's a great place to start.” Dr. Sherifali adds,
In the future, with additional funding and more support, we can reimagine what diabetes management may look like five years, eight years from now, 10 years from now.
For people like Laura, living with diabetes can be physically and mentally exhausting. But promising research like Dr. Sherifali’s means that one day, the outlook for those diagnosed with the condition could be different.
For the millions in Laura’s shoes, improving diabetes management couldn’t be more urgent. “I’ve learned that this condition doesn't discriminate. That it affects all of us in some way. And that we must never let fear, shame or stigma stop us,” she says. “Our loved ones are counting on us to take action and propel incredible research like Dr. Sherifali’s forward.”
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