[Sharon Aaron]

Hi. I’m 60.  Will be 61 in a couple of months.  Was diagnosed with PD at 55.  I already had Type 1 Diabetes, now for almost 49 years.  I have been relatively well-controlled, and happy/hopeful/thankful to have seen so many wondrous and effective developments in the field over the years.  As you might imagine though, with insulin-dependent Diabetes, the degree of management, monitoring, medicating, and overcoming has been tremendous.  I am so thankful for my health and my life.  However, Parkinsons added an avalanche of additional concerns, vigilance, guess work, fear and medication overload…….I couldn’t believe I could get another (but more meddling) condition, this one leaving me with no way to control my progression and with which I face the unknown.  No one else in my family, on either side, has or has had PD.  I have not been exposed to insecticide.  I have been a fitness and health maniac since I was 22.  At this point, I know my Diabetes management like the back of my hand.  I would say PD its the most challenging due to always being off-balance, self-conscious, tentative, slow and unstable…. you cannot depend on one day being just like the other (you may have a routine but it doesn’t consistently deliver the same results). Bottom line, I have to be able to have MOVEMENT in my body to successfully manage my Diabetes.  So far, it helps greatly with PD too, but if PD causes immobility or causes me physical disability from injury,  then it will be the thing that takes me out.  I pray for advancements every day.  And I pray for all of the Parkinson’s community to crank out the best spirit and determination you can muster, follow your regimen, be proud of every accomplishment, and to thoroughly enjoy every breeze.