Believe it or not, I graduated from Regent University in 1998 sitting right next to Miss America! At the time, she was a fellow communication student, Nicole Johnson. But a few months later, she would become Miss America!Nicole was in my hometown this week, speaking at the American Academy of Family Physicians conference about living with diabetes. Here she is pictured with my kids. I thought it would be fun for my kids to say they've been pictured with Miss America! How cool is that?
So here we are, 10 years later, sitting at dinner together. As the reigning Miss America, she traveled to 3-4 different cities every week and it was terribly lonely to be on the road. Now she still travels extensively, speaking about diabetes issues.
I admire her passion and determination to live to the fullest, even with Type 1 diabetes. She is constantly monitoring her blood sugar and caring for her body in ways that most people don't ever have to think of. In the future, I'll be interviewing Nicole about diabetes and pregnancy, because she did have a healthy baby girl 2 1/2 years ago, even though it wasn't recommended medically for her to ever have children.
Diabetes is a terrible disease and one you want to avoid if at all possible. It's been known as the silent killer. Nicole is so grateful that with advances in medicine, she has been able to live productively these past 15 years with diabetes. Cases of Type 2 diabetes (not the kind Nicole has) are preventable with healthy eating and exercise. So take care not to become overweight. You and your kids will be glad you did!
"I will redeem them from death." Hosea 13:14
2 comments:
Wow! What a great picture!
It's so great that we live in a time when medical advances make living with something like diabetes "do-able."
Arlene, I'm still doing good on the treadmill--I've got about eight pounds to go to reach my goal weight!
How fun, Arlene! I remember when Nicole won the pageant.
By the way, love the site's new look!
Post a Comment