Charles Morse: Type 2 Diabetes Success Story
Date Posted: Monday, December 06, 2021Charles was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2015 at age 30. Diabetes runs in his family, and when he first came to the UMass Memorial diabetes clinic in early 2021, he was struggling with severe insulin resistance and poor blood sugar control.
At that time, Charles was taking 425 units of insulin a day, yet his blood sugar levels remained above 400 mg/dL. His A1c was 11.0%. Working with endocrinologist Dr. David Harlan, he began a structured healthy eating plan and made major lifestyle changes. By his second appointment a month later, his A1c had dropped to 9%. In less than a year, he lost 35 pounds, lowered his A1c to 7%, and reduced his insulin from 425 units a day to just 40.
Charles also worked with diabetes educator Fernanda Costa, RN, who helped him better understand nutrition, food labels, carbohydrates and portion sizes. He changed the way he eats, added regular exercise to his routine and began starting many days with a walk before work.
He has also benefited from the convenience of the UMass Memorial Specialty Pharmacy which mails his medications directly to his home and made the process easy to set up.
One of the most meaningful results of his progress is having more energy and being able to be more active with his young nephews. His story shows how lifestyle change, education and a supportive care team can dramatically improve diabetes management and quality of life.