Karen Blessing, Your Plan for Health Champion
For Karen Blessing, office assistant for Ohio State’s Department of Mathematics, the Your Plan for Health (YPFH) biometric health screening and Personal Health Assessment (PHA) process was much more than just a way to earn some extra cash. It was about her health—and saving her from some serious health problems down the road.
At a YPFH screening, Karen discovered that her blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels were high, so the screening nurse recommended that she follow-up with her doctor. Sure enough, she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
“My doctor wanted to put me on medication, and I didn’t want to go on it—at first, I was in denial about having the disease,” Karen said. “I figured I could lower my numbers on my own through lifestyle changes. I really just didn’t want to be on pills.”
By eating healthier and ramping up her exercise routine, Karen was able to hold off on taking medications for several months. Then she found a diabetic study through Ohio State’s Department of Human Nutrition.
“Participating in the study was the first point that I knew I really needed to start taking care of my diabetes. Through the study, I learned so much about the disease, the potential problems associated with it if I didn’t manage my condition, and how to take care of myself while managing my diabetes,” Karen said.
In just nine months, Karen was able to lower her blood sugar levels from an AIC of 7.8 to an AIC of 7.4. Her blood pressure and cholesterol levels also fell into normal ranges.
Karen now also participates in the Care Coordination program through YPFH, which covers the cost of her generic diabetes medication. “I’ve been really impressed with the Care Coordination program,” she said. “By participating in this program, the entire out-of-pocket cost for my prescription is covered.”
Because of her Cherokee heritage, Karen knew she was more prone to developing diabetes. “My uncle had diabetes and didn’t take care of himself; he had to have both legs amputated,” she said. “I knew that if I wanted to stay healthy and active, I’d have to get into an exercise regimen and eat healthier.”
Karen realizes that managing her diabetes will be a lifelong journey, but she’s committed to controlling her condition—versus the condition controlling her—by always focusing on a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
“If you don’t take care of yourself and think, ‘live and let live,’ you’re not going to live a long, healthy life.”