Meet Lauren

I will never forget the call that forever changed the course of my life. Three years ago, while living in New York City, I went to a local clinic for routine blood work, thinking nothing would be out of the ordinary. When the nurse called, she began by asking a series of familiar questions about my family history with diabetes. After answering, she shared the news: my A1C was critically high at 8.9—I was diabetic.

I went numb. At just 30 years old, I had been living undiagnosed for an extended period of time. The nurse instructed me to make an appointment with a primary care doctor right away to begin treatment. From that moment forward, I knew I had to take my health seriously. At the time, I was already considering bariatric surgery, but the confirmation of my type 2 diabetes diagnosis pushed me to actively pursue the gastric sleeve procedure.

In April 2022, I weighed 305 pounds with an A1C of 8.9. 

I felt incredibly isolated on my journey. I turned to the American Diabetes Association’s website for support, searching for recipes and resources to help manage my diagnosis. It wasn't easy—adjusting to the alarms from my Freestyle Libre, managing blood sugar lows, taking metformin pills, learning Ozempic injections—and facing the reality that, at just 30 years old, my body had been struggling far longer than I realized.

But with the support of my medical team, a wonderful personal trainer, and the will to keep fighting, I made progress. Within four months, I lost 33 pounds, and my A1C dropped to 6—just in time for my weight-loss surgery on August 10, 2022.

Today, three years after that life-changing diagnosis, my A1C remains in the normal range, and I have lost more than 100 pounds (and am still moving forward). But this is still a journey I walk every day. I continue to navigate the ups and downs—from occasional low blood sugar dips and the lifelong challenge of managing obesity. Healing is not a straight line, it’s a path I am learning to walk with compassion, patience, and hope.

I share my story because I don't want anyone to feel as alone or overwhelmed as I once did. Managing diabetes can be overwhelming, but with support, knowledge, and perseverance, it is possible to overcome it. You are part of a community and are never alone.