From the Diabetes Expert

Lauren Korshak is a clinical exercise physiologist and diabetes expert. She's spent years working in cardiac rehabilitation at the VA in Washington, DC, as well as instructing at the George Washington University, and creating her own Wellness Coaching Business. She's done numerous studies on diabetes and diabetes management, and therefore, in my mind, she's the expert. I always go to Lauren for my questions that are more of a "clinical" nature. But not only is Lauren an amazing expert in her field, she's also a great friend, and colleague from GW, where we both attended for our degrees in Exercise Science. She was even a participant in my Masters Research Thesis on Running Form and Efficiency! (She's my true "you can overcome plantar fasciitis with proper form" test subject, and she'll verify that!)

Lauren Korshak, M.S. Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Lauren in 2006 at the Marine Corps Marathon

 So, upon doing Paige's 3 month assessment and labwork results, I thought I'd ask Lauren to take a look at our blogs and give some quick thoughts and feedback. Here is what she said:

"Once someone has a Diabetes Mellitus diagnosis, they have that diagnosis because they're prone to elevated blood glucose levels. There are many different ways that type 2 diabetes can be managed - oral medications & insulin, healthy food choices, carbohydrate counting, and regular exercise. The latter must be included in ANY diabetes treatment plan.
Paige has made HUGE changes - going from an A1c of 8 to 6 is really a tremendous accomplishment. I think it's important to remember that she's technically a lifestyle controlled diabetic, and that the diet and the exercise are the forms of "medication" that she's using to control her condition. If she starts to slack off, it's the same as not taking medications as directed, resulting in blood glucose levels starting to climb and increasing the changes that she'll need to start oral medications - most likely metformin, sometimes combined with a second oral or insulin depending on blood glucose trends."

So, Paige, we're not out of the woods yet, as your diabetes WILL rear its nasty head again if you EVER go back to the way things were. No turning back now! But, hey, you knew that anyways, right?