From Pre-Diabetes to Near-Death: Helen's Wake-Up Call

Beautifully Well Conversations with Nik

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"Pre-diabetes doesn't mean you have time—it means you need to act now." These powerful words from Helen, a survivor of life-threatening diabetes complications, cut through the dangerous misconception that keeps many of us in denial about our health.
Helen's story begins like many others—a routine doctor's visit resulting in that seemingly innocuous diagnosis: pre-diabetes. "I thought that meant I had time," she recalls, a belief that nearly cost her life when her unmanaged condition spiraled into diabetic ketoacidosis and necrotizing fasciitis. Waking from a five-day coma with doctors expressing amazement at her survival (only 21% of people with her infection survive), Helen gained painful clarity about how quickly health can deteriorate when warning signs are ignored.
Through raw, honest dialogue, Helen and host Coach Nik unpack the cultural normalization of diabetes complications in communities of color—how we've come to accept amputations and chronic illness as inevitable rather than preventable outcomes. They challenge listeners to break these cycles by becoming fierce health advocates, carefully monitoring blood sugar responses to different foods, finding supportive healthcare providers, and recognizing that type 2 diabetes isn't a guaranteed inheritance from our families.
What makes this conversation particularly powerful is Helen's vulnerability in acknowledging the psychological components of health neglect—how we sometimes don't believe we deserve to prioritize our own wellbeing. Her journey from Air Force veteran to community outreach coordinator to patient and now health advocate offers a roadmap for anyone standing at that critical pre-diabetes crossroads.
Ready to rewrite your health story? Listen now and join our beautifully well tribe as we support each other in taking control of our health journeys before crisis strikes. Your future self will thank you.

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Chapters

1. Understanding Pre-Diabetes Warning Signs (00:00:00)

2. Helen's Journey from Pre-Diabetes to Diagnosis (00:05:53)

3. The Critical Shift: From Managing to Neglecting (00:10:00)

4. Life-Threatening Complications and Hospitalization (00:16:31)

5. Advice for Women with Pre-Diabetes (00:27:31)

6. Building Self-Advocacy and Community Support (00:33:13)