Diane Drapos: Type 1 Diabetes Success Story
Diane was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1992, shortly after graduating from Assumption College in Worcester. Her high blood sugar was discovered during a routine physical exam before she had any symptoms. For the first six months, she managed it with diet and exercise, but once symptoms developed, insulin injections became necessary.
Although Diane had been educated about insulin pumps, she was not interested in using one until she became pregnant with her first child at age 29. Wanting the best possible control during pregnancy motivated her to make the switch, and she successfully maintained excellent blood sugar management through that pregnancy and another just 13 months later. Over time, however, keeping her blood sugars in range became more difficult.
As a business development manager for Johnson Controls, Diane’s work involved frequent travel, presentations and meetings. She lived with a constant fear of low blood sugar, which eventually led her to overcompensate. Even when she felt she was doing everything right, her blood sugars often remained unpredictable. That inconsistency became frustrating and discouraging.
In 2019, Diane became seriously ill and lost 35 pounds in a short period of time. After extensive testing and two hospitalizations, she was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a rare autoimmune disease, in addition to type 1 diabetes. During that difficult period, she was introduced to endocrinologist, Dr. David Harlan at UMass Memorial.
Diane credits Dr. Harlan with helping her feel supported during a frightening and uncertain time. She says his calm, reassuring approach made a lasting difference and appreciates that he takes time to listen, responds quickly between appointments when needed and includes her in decisions about her care. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, he considered her lifestyle, concerns and goals — and helped her achieve her best blood sugar control in more than 20 years.
Diane’s story reflects the value of personalized diabetes care, especially when life becomes more complicated. With the right support, she found a care team that helped her feel heard, understood and better equipped to manage both diabetes and another serious autoimmune condition.