November is National Diabetes Month. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 10.5% of people between the ages of 20-79 have diabetes, with almost half unaware that they are living with the condition. More than 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. Blue Yonder associate JR Fuller shares his diabetes diagnosis story and how he has learned to live with the disease.

Tell me about yourself and your role at Blue Yonder.

I live in Florida with my wife, Catherine, and I have one grown son and four grandchildren. At Blue Yonder, I am the vice president for our Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Latin America Manufacturing sales team.

Please share your diagnosis story. 

In September 2014 I had gallstone pancreatitis, which occurs when a gallstone blocks the pancreatic duct, causing inflammation and pain in the pancreas. When this blockage happens, it can lead to the backflow of pancreatic enzymes, causing inflammation of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis can lead to various complications, including necrosis, infection, and the formation of pseudocysts.

When this happened, I was in the hospital for 10 days, three of those were in intensive care while they tried to keep me from going septic.

After that, I had seven surgeries over the course of 60 days. After all the surgeries, my doctors didn’t know how badly my pancreas was damaged; if the pancreas stops producing insulin, they told me that I could develop diabetes.

In 2015, I took a job in Houston at HP where they had an onsite clinic. One day in May, while there doing my annual exam, they tested my blood and it showed an A1C of 6.0, which is pre-diabetes (pre-diabetic is 5.7 to 6.4 and diabetic is 6.5 or higher).

In July, the number increased to 7.0, which meant I had developed diabetes. I was sent to an endocrinologist who put me on metformin, which is a type of medication used to treat diabetes, and told me I had Type 2 diabetes (which I later found out it wasn’t). I was given a needle prick and sugar testing kit and sent on my way with no real education.

It wasn’t until several months later on a flight from Atlanta to Houston when I was so thirsty and couldn’t get enough to drink. I also couldn’t stop going to the bathroom. When I finally googled “constant urination,” the first thing that came up was diabetes. I retrieved my testing kit (which I had stopped using) and it said, “Too high to calculate.” I googled what that meant and it said that I should go to the emergency room. I called my doctor, she had me test again and I received the same result so she sent me to the emergency room.

At the hospital, I was tested and had a blood sugar level of 584 mg/dL (a normal level is between 70 and 100 mg/dL), so they admitted me immediately. I was there for three days on insulin treatments and my A1C was 13.0.

When you first learned about your diagnosis, what went through your mind?

Coming home from my second hospital stay is when I first realized diabetes was going to be part of my life. After the hospital visit, I went home with my insulin shot and for a few hours I sat and cried thinking that I would not be able to do 10 blood testing stabs and at least five insulin shots a day. But then I thought about my granddaughter and how disappointed she would be in me for doubting myself, so I picked myself up and put that out of my mind.

How has it impacted your daily life?

From 2015-2018, diabetes greatly impacted my life. The constant stabbing of my finger and injections in my abdomen were horrible. I hated eating as everything seemed to spike my blood sugar. In 2019, I was able to start using a blood glucose sensor to keep track of my sugar with just one prick every 10 days – that was huge. This sensor changed my life. Coupled with the Apple Watch I could see my sugar every five minutes. In 2020, I started to use a new type of medical device to deliver insulin, trading five shots (minimum) per day to one prick every two to three days. Today my A1C is 5.4 with insulin being the only drug I take.

What is the one misconception about diabetes that you would like to clear up?

Not all diabetes is the same. I don’t have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. I have the CONDITION of diabetes; since my pancreas doesn’t produce insulin, I have something similar to Type 1 diabetes – not Type 2 like my doctor had originally thought, which requires a different type of care. With access to the proper education and technology (sensors, pods, etc.), it can be well controlled but there is no silver bullet. It takes constant vigilance to stay on top of it.

If there is one thing you wish people knew about diabetes, what would it be?

Access to the proper technology and training can change a person’s life. I’m blessed to have good insurance, a loving family support system, and the ability to financially support this condition. But, unfortunately, not everyone has these things. Insulin is a life-saving medication, but it can be very expensive.

What advice do you have for or words of encouragement would you share with someone who might be going through the same thing?

Talk to someone that understands what you are going through. Diabetes is permanent and life-altering, so it can be draining at times. Creating a good support system and educating yourself about it (information is power!) is key to understanding the disease and being able to manage it. If I can help anyone, please reach out.

This year marks my 10th « plus » birthday, a milestone that reminds me of the uncertainty I faced a decade ago when I was in the ICU. Surviving that challenging time has filled my life with gratitude and incredible experiences.

Learn more about diabetes here.