Teresa Harackiewicz
Type 2 Diabetes Success Story
Teresa Harackiewicz was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 2006. She first visited the UMass Memorial Diabetes Center of Excellence in 2017 and met with Dr. Samir Malkani. Her A1c was 7.5%, which was the highest it had ever been.
“I knew I had to do something,” Teresa said. “My major motivation was that my husband weighed less than I did. He has a fantastic metabolism.”
She began walking about two miles on a treadmill after meals, three times a day. She also started paying attention to everything she ate. Teresa was determined, or “pretty stubborn,” as she put it, to lose weight and take control of her blood sugar levels by way of healthy eating and increased physical activity.
Her new lifestyle resulted in an initial loss of 25 pounds within the first six months, during which she also dropped three dress sizes. As the pounds came off, she became increasingly motivated.
“Sometimes I take a break from walking, but then get right back on track,” she said. “Rest if you must, but don’t quit! I feel more alive than ever.”
On the 10th of every month, she continues to share her progress with Dr. Malkani by uploading and sending her blood glucose meter results.
“Even though he’s very busy, Dr. Malkani writes back to me every time, and continues to encourage,” said Teresa. “My blood glucose, blood pressure, and other numbers have come down. Nothing can stop me now!”
"Teresa continues to do fabulously well with her diabetes management. Her A1c improved to under 6% and she remains in a non-diabetes range! She's a self-motivated individual who has taken control of her blood sugars while I assist her from the sidelines, encourage her, and monitor the progress."
- Dr. Samir Malkani