Centerport Woman Stars in WebMD Video Series

A Centerport woman stars in a WebMD video series documenting her life as a working mother living with Type 2 diabetes.

The two-part video series called “Innovations in Care,” hosted by journalist Soledad O’Brien, delves into the lives of two individuals looking for the best medical treatment possible for their health conditions. The series was released online Thursday.

Paige Sanborn, 45, was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with her daughter 16 years ago. Post pregnancy, doctors told her she no longer had the condition, but like many other women who develop gestational diabetes, she was later diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

“[The series] focuses on how diabetes affects my daily routines and how I have to live to manage what I’ve got,” Sanborn told Patch.

According to the American Diabetes Association, women with a history of gestational diabetes frequently develop Type 2 diabetes later on in life.

While Sanborn thought it was a funny concept to be followed around by cameras, the video series informs the public of a common disease that many people do not treat properly.

According to Sanborn, diabetes is a timely issue and a rapidly growing condition. At least one out of three people will develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says.

A 2014 CDC Diabetes Statistics Report says about 29.1 million people (9.3 percent of the population) have diabetes. About 8.1 million of those people with diabetes are undiagnosed, according to the report.

Sanborn said she became aware of the potential dangers of diabetes after watching her mother with Type 1 diabetes “rapidly deteriorate” for not taking care of herself when she was younger.

WebMD says diabetes can affect every organ in your body, including your heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, gums and teeth.

Seeing her own mother's struggle with diabetes and the desire to be there for her family serves as motivation for Sanborn to manage her condition.

“It’s a constant reminder to be careful,” she said. “Part of the reasons why I am as adamant to be healthy as I can be is because of being a mother.”

Sanborn, who works as a therapist, has lived in Centerport for five years. She is married with two children: Mackenzie, 16, and Austin, 12.

“My family is very active in trying to be careful regarding their diet and exercise routine,” she said. Sanborn and her family follow a low carb-esque diet to keep their sugar levels managed.

Sanborn was already involved in spreading awareness of diabetes prior to her diagnosis. As a therapist, she brought diabetes education to hospitals and camps. She continues to campaign for diabetes awareness in this video series and beyond.

Watch a day in the life of Sanborn in the “Innovations in Care” series here. The series is in production with Starfish Productions.

Image via video screenshot