Editor's Note: The sole purpose of any story posted on todayinhealth.com is to encourage hope in people who otherwise feel their life is at an end because of a debilitating illness or condition. Reading about overcoming these situations can help inspire hope and peace of mind in some people. Note that some names have been left out or changed for confidentiality reasons.

Reaping the Rewards of Good Health

As Told By: Gregg R.

Wake-up Call

Gregg Riley of Swansea, South Carolina knows how devastating Type 2 diabetes can be - he watched his father suffer from it for years. So when Gregg, a former elementary school principal, was diagnosed with diabetes himself nearly three years ago, he decided to take action. "I'd exercised off and on for a long time, but never stuck with it," he says. "Now I was paying the price. I was overweight with high blood pressure, facing the same problems my father had." After a heart catheterization showed no blockages, Gregg felt he had a second chance to live a long, healthy life. By chance, he happened to read about an online fitness community, and went to the website to find out more. Impressed with what he saw, Gregg signed up to begin exercising with the support of a community. He hoped it would be just the jumpstart he was looking for.

Taking Charge

Shortly after his diagnosis, Gregg began walking. "At first it was a chore," he admits. "It was tough to get out there and walk every morning." But within a few weeks, Gregg began to notice beneficial changes. His self-esteem improved, and he felt more equipped to deal with the stresses of everyday life. "I had more energy and felt more upbeat," he says. "I realized that exercise can make a big difference in your outlook on life." He also saw a nutritionist, and replaced the fried foods and sugar in his diet with fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. "I kept going for my health," he says, "and for my wife and children."

Healthy Rewards

Within six months of beginning his daily exercise, Gregg had lost sixty pounds and his doctor had taken him off diabetes medication. Two and a half years later, he is still walking and controlling his diabetes through diet and exercise. Now that his blood sugar has stabilized, his vision has improved and he no longer needs glasses to drive. Exercise, he says, "has helped me deal with my diabetes in a proactive way." He now walks every morning before his part-time job as a teacher/coordinator of an adult GED program. "Exercise is a joy now. I look forward to it, even in the winter." To date, Gregg has completed four half-marathons, two of them with his twenty-seven year-old daughter. Though he has recently gained back a few pounds, he knows he can lose them again by being careful with his diet and adding extra steps to his routine. "Walking helps me physically, emotionally, and spiritually," says Gregg. He's grateful to his online community "for encouraging me, and for giving me the opportunity to take control of my health."