Defying Diabetes – The Craig Hartpence Story

Defying diabetes is what Craig has been doing since he was just a child. I met Craig a few years prior while we both were employed at the same hospital. Craig was a paramedic who I always enjoyed talking with. We spoke about many different topics particularly about diabetes (something we shared in common) fatherhood, marriage and other such topics.

It became quickly obvious to me that Craig was very knowledgeable about diabetes in particular as he was successfully managing it since he was about eight years-old. His knowledge is clearly based on practical experience gleaned from earlier times when diabetes was seen as a disease which many believed could be contagious. The medical profession was very limited in their knowledge at the time when Craig was diagnosed at the age of eight. He has learned the hard way by listening to to his body, and coupled with his paramedic training he has been able to share his knowledge with medical professionals. At least those who keep an open mind and are willing to listen.

Defying Diabetes Against All Odds

As a child the Hartpence family doctor informed Craig’s parents that he would not live beyond the age of twenty. Craig is still alive today and defying diabetes against all odds. The following is an interview with Craig which I hope will provide you with a glimpse of the exceptional person he is. Craig does not let anything get him down. He accepts every challenge without complaint and sets out to find a way to overcome whatever challenge life may throw his way. Today he is considered the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) expert in Central Florida. He runs a critter  eviction business and is always seeking to help others.

Interview With Craig Hartspence (October 2010)

Me: How long have you had diabetes?

Craig: Since I was about 8 years old.

Me: Have you had any complications from it?

Craig : No. As a matter of fact my family was told that I would not live past twenty due to the fact that not much was known about diabetes at that time.

Me: How have you managed your diabetes?

Craig: At first I used to use test strips for sugar levels which was very rudimentary. It went by numbers and if the number was higher than 4 there was too much sugar in your blood. Of course you couldn’t tell how high it was, just that it was higher than normal.

Me: How have you learned since then to manage your blood sugar?

Craig: I was about twenty years old when I figured out that exercise would bring down my sugar level. Then I figured out if I did not take any insulin it would still get too high because my pancreas had completely shutdown and was unable to produce insulin.

Me: Didn’t your doctor explain that to you?

Craig: Back then their knowledge was so limited and insulin had just been introduced. They would give you some basic instructions but much of it was learn as you go.

Me: How has it been since then?

Answer: What I’ve noticed is that doctors tend to deal with diabetes based on statistics.  The truth is each person is unique. I’ve learned to listen to my body and compensate my insulin levels.

Me : What about your diet?

Craig: I eat foods that will not raise my blood levels quickly (glycemic index). After all these years I can pretty much tell you the calorie count of most foods because I do it now almost without conscious thought.

Me: What else do you do in defying diabetes?

Craig: A lot of people don’t realize the eyes are  the window to your diabetes. One day I was driving when I realized my vision rolling to a point where I couldn’t see.

Me : Rolling?

Craig: You know. Just like how the early TV pictures  used to roll up and down the screen. I also noticed I was sweating. My wife was in the car with me and she got in the drivers seat and I told her to get me to a store as soon as possible.

Me: So it sounds like you knew that the diabetes was responsible for your symptoms.

Craig: I didn’t. I didn’t connect the pieces of the puzzle at the time but after eating some sugar the symptoms went away. It was only then that I put two and two together.

Me: So you’ve mastered the art of listening to you body now?

Craig: More or less. Now I take Lantis insulin and I realize that when my blood suagr is low my eyes will keep getting brighter where I can’t see anything except starbursts then I realize something is wrong with my blood sugar. Then it goes away after I eat.  Also your body reacts a little differently to each type of insulin because of the makeup so when your doctor changes your insulin you have to carefully monitor it until you understand how it affects you.

Sometimes I miss the signs. For example sometimes my wife will notice that my speech is slurred without me being aware because I believe I’m talking normally. Or she’ll touch me and notice my skin feels clammy and she’ll tell me that I need to eat something.

Me: How long have you worked as a paramedic?

Craig: For thirty years. That’s helped me a lot.

Me: How would you say that it has helped you?

Craig: I was able help a lot of patients by recognizing certain symptoms. I was able to give myself my insulin shots, which I still do.

Me: How much insulin are you taking presently?

Craig: I give myself one shot per day of 45 units.

Me: You’re telling me that after 44 years of being a type 1 diabetic you are only taking 45 units of insulin?

Craig: That’s it. By exercising I am able to reduce the amount of insulin I take. I don’t have to worry about my blood sugar being too high. I have to worry  more about my level being low. Also if I was to get my AIC at the recommended 6.5 I would be in a insulin shock. I have to keep mine at 7 or higher.

Me: That just speaks to the uniqueness of us all. Doesn’t it? Any words of advice?

Craig: When I was about 15 I was told my leg had to be amputated after I had a small nick which became infected. Another doctor overheard the conversation and saved my leg by forcing out the infection with his thumb and then placing me on antibiotics. After about two months of keeping my leg elevated and some hard work my leg was back to normal. That man saved my leg.

Diabetics are prone to problems with the small vessels such as those that feed the optic nerve which can result in blindness. Which is why I recommend diabetics get their eyes checked every 3 to 6 months. Most people will say their eyes are fine if they can see an insect wiping it’s butt on the concrete (LOL. A sense of humor is a trademark of Craig’s) but they should still have it checked regularly.

Me: Anything you would like to add for the benefit of our readers Craig?

Craig: I’m convinced that the reason I’m still around is to help as many people as I can. that’s the reason I’m doing this interview, to help someone.

Me: Thank you Craig. I hope you continue defying diabetes for many more years to come.

Knowing Craig as I do, I can confirm that he is not just saying that to sound noble. He is convinced that his purpose is to help others, and I can also tell you he is a very unselfish person. What is interesting to me is that Craig is as slim and trim as he is considering that insulin is a fat storage hormone and encourages weight gain. When I asked him about that he said he did not gain weight because he exercises regularly by taking long walks. In effect the insulin does not get the opportunity to store fat. No wonder he is so successful at defying diabetes.

Eating to Live – Not living to Eat

One of the the most impressive things about Craig is the discipline he has exhibited to control his diabetes since he was a child. This truly is an example of someone who eats to live, instead of living to eat as so many of us do.

Contact Craig @ aedmeddirect@aol.com

Wishing you good health,

Patrick Brown