Deb is a former high school English teacher who now works as a paralegal focusing on employment discrimination. She enjoys cooking, gardening, and reading, and would consider herself a political activist. We chatted with Deb on Zoom to hear about her experiences making healthy lifestyle changes. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

What was your experience of diabetes before you joined See Yourself Health?

I was diagnosed as a diabetic a year and a half before I joined SYH. I didn’t feel it; it was found through routine blood work. When I was first diagnosed, I took my diabetes very seriously. I got linked up with Dr. Ron Harris at Geisinger; he helped me a lot through medication, and that spurred me on to watch my diet more carefully and get involved in an exercise program. I saw my A1C go from 8 to 6.4 over a couple of months. My life wasn’t terrible before, but the bloom got off the rose after about a year as far as excellent behavior. I was getting sloppy and allowing my medication to do the work. I slacked off! So the last time I saw Dr. Harris, he suggested See Yourself Health. 

It was all very new to me; I’m an older woman, 68 years old, and while I have computer skills because they are essential for my job, this wasn’t quite the same thing - I’ve never played computer games or anything like that. I had a 3-4 month adjustment period. The platform, while it sometimes has its flaws, is not a dealbreaker. What matters is the people; the participants and the mentors who’ve helped me tremendously. I’ve found that the people at SYH are the best support group I’ve ever been involved with. I’ve done Weight Watchers, Overeaters Anonymous, and even seen private nutritionists and therapists, but I feel like I’m getting more from the people component of SYH than I ever did in any other group.

During the COVID-19 quarantine, SYH additional meetups allowed me something to do and look forward to. It allowed me a great deal of enjoyment once I got to know the people. We initially started with Monday or Thursday meetups and then things kept being added. I really love the add-ons. I attend as often as possible, although I’m now back to working part-time and go into the office a few days a week. Whenever I can, I love going to Lorraine’s 11 AM Zoom sessions; the same goes for the 2:30 PM stretching and balance exercises, which are very important to me because of my age. I have made very, very deep friendships with the participants, especially on Zoom. I think really highly of everyone and appreciate the confidentiality of the meetups. That’s why we can be who we are, and it’s wonderful. 

Is there a particular moment that stands out for you since joining the community? 

My favorite days are Wednesday goal-setting. With respect to goal setting, SYH has helped me get into an exercise mode. I walk almost every morning for thirty to forty minutes, and I’m very proud of that. I used to go to a local fitness center and then COVID came along. I’m happy to have a healthy alternative to a fitness center. SYH has also helped me realize how important it is for me to plan menus and meals. I had an “ah-ha” moment about two weeks ago, in the midst of all this goal-setting, when I realized that while I’m planning meals and recording what I eat during mealtime, I never built snacks into my plan.  That was a real mindblower to me, but now I make sure I have healthy snacks available. Just by talking in the group, you can realize that tracking can be super helpful. If you’re having a hard time or feeling discouraged that you’ll never be able to make changes, attend a few sessions and listen to the other people that have gone through the same thing. I’m very confident that you would find something that could really be helpful with this program. 

As you started making changes, was there anything that surprised you? 

The hurdle was always pizza and potato chips, big time. Here’s the thing; when my behavior is what it should be, exercise and diet-wise, I get good results. It’s very much cause and effect. I realize how lucky I am, because some people can do the same thing and won’t get the same result. I know that my results won’t last forever if I don’t stay on track. I know my medication will not take care of me forever.  Keeping on the straight and narrow with exercise and food is a hurdle, but SYH helps me to do that because I have the accountability to my friends there. I resemble my avatar; I wear my hair similarly and have glasses and work in the legal profession so my avatar’s in a suit. She’s a good role model to me. She’s more slender which is a good thing to keep in front of my face all the time, kind of what I aspire to be.

What would you say to someone who’s struggling with their diabetes and doesn’t believe that things can change?

I think the SYH meetups would help them because they would hear the personal stories of many participants who felt the same way. What I like with respect to intention-setting is narrowing goals down; if your intention is to exercise more and eat right, that’s a little too big. It’s helpful for people to realize that progress starts with awareness and planning. Setting it down on paper may help, typing an agenda into a computer, etc. I think planning is important for people who are trying to be more healthy and do long-term goal-setting. 

What’s your outlook for the future?

I want to continue to engage in physical exercise and eat well, thereby driving down my blood sugar. My blood sugar is about 6.3 right now, and I want to keep it there, thereby ultimately eliminating some of the medications that I’m on. All of that leads to a healthier lifestyle. 

Dancing in the virtual world is a pillar of the See Yourself Health program. What’s your go-to dance music? 

I enjoy everything they play on the dance floor. Evan always asks if anyone has special requests. One day I loved it when they played a Beatles song. I would enjoy hearing more Beatles or Rolling Stones.

Learn more about See Yourself Health and chronic disease management in the virtual world.