McCaleb: Tryon shares highs, lows of diabetes fight

Comments (...)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Comments

Share

A vote on House Democrats’ version of health care reform could come as soon as this weekend.

No matter how the vote goes, there’s sure to be fiery rhetoric from all sides. That’s because we’ll never get consensus on every detail of health care reform.

But just about everyone can agree on this: Preventive care is the smartest, most cost-effective way for individuals to make their own contribution to reform.

And for the 24 million Americans with diabetes, preventive care is a life-or-death scenario.

State Rep. Mike Tryon, R-Crystal Lake, helped drive that point home Friday at a diabetes fair at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center in Huntley attended by more than 200 people.

Tryon, 54, began medical treatment for diabetes in 2008, although he was diagnosed with pre-diabetes years earlier.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to produce or use insulin, resulting in high levels of sugar in the blood. Improperly treated diabetes can lead to heart and nerve problems, kidney failure, blindness and other serious health issues, including death.

Treatment in most cases means a total lifestyle change.

Carefully planning and monitoring what you eat, every single day.

Exercising regularly.

Medication.

It’s not an easy transition.

“When I first knew I was developing diabetes, I was very good. I started keeping a food journal, exercising,” Tryon said. “Then you fall off the wagon. You go to Springfield (where his job as state representative takes him), which is diabetically unhealthy. You’re on the House floor for 12 hours. ... They specialize in making good food bad. It’s tough.”

But it isn’t a death sentence.

Tryon, whose grandparents, father and sister all developed diabetes, decided that he might be able to help others by sharing his story, both the ups and downs.

In addition to being treated by a doctor, he recommends taking a diabetes education class. When he first was diagnosed, he said he fumbled around on the Internet and got some bad information, ending up on a diet plan that didn’t help.

But then he took a class and is much more prepared to fight his disease.

“Most people live to eat,” he said. “I have to eat to live.”

He does that by counting, and limiting, the carbohydrate and fat grams he eats. He also exercises regularly, on a treadmill at home and a stationary bicycle in Springfield, and takes medication.

“By doing those things, I’ve been able to keep my glucose levels down,” he said.

But Tryon acknowledges that it’s a constant battle.

“I’m an example. I’m going to share my successes and my failures. I fall off the wagon like everyone else. But I’m getting better and better.”

Tryon lauded Centegra for opening a diabetes center at its Crystal Lake Medical Arts facility.

At the center, dietitians, nurses and other experts educate clients about proper diet and exercise, and help them develop a treatment plan.

“Centegra has done good for our community by starting the diabetes center. I think they ought to be commended for that,” he said.

Tryon also should be commended, for sharing his message about his struggles.

“If one person learned from my successes or my failures, then that’s a success for me.”

• Dan McCaleb is editor of Northwest Herald. He can be reached at dmccaleb@nwherald.com.

Comments