Over two years ago, Earl Everson came to Mercy Care Decatur Street for a regular checkup. His visit went as expected. The nurse checked his vitals, asked a series of questions, and left the room. When the doctor came in, Earl thought he would get a good report and be back next year. Instead, he received life changing news. Earl was diagnosed with diabetes.

Nearly 25% of Americans are living with undiagnosed diabetes – a life-threatening diagnosis if left untreated. Earl even knew friends who passed because they did not properly manage their diabetes.

“This was the best day of my life,” Earl said. “It woke me up to what I was eating.” Mercy Care has helped Earl successfully manage his diabetes, with appointments once every three months. He also checks his blood pressure daily at home tracking each reading, allowing the doctor to see accurate data when he comes for his visits.

Changing your diet can be overwhelming if you do not have help. “The Doctor showed me what to do and what not to do,” Earl said. He has since learned that foods such as white bread and certain orange juices can spike his sugar. Mercy Care provided him with a blood sugar reader and dietary material to make the transition as easy as possible.

“Mercy Care lead me in the right direction,” Earl said.

He now enjoys cooking his meals—it gives him control over what goes into his food, unlike when eating out. Especially, when it comes to salt. “I do not need any of that,” he adds.

Left untreated, diabetes can also lead to kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, and vision loss. Without visiting Mercy Care, Earl’s diabetes would have gone unnoticed, “I would have been dead,” he said.