Diabetes Drives Julius to Lose 80 Pounds
Troy Julius was all too familiar with Type II diabetes. For 20 years he had lived with blood sugars that frequently topped 250. At night he took insulin; during the day he took Glipizide. But nothing seemed to keep his numbers down. Then he attended a seminar about weight loss surgery at TriHealth Weight Management. When he heard that 80 percent of patients see significant improvement in their diabetes, he was sold.
In November 2005, at 282 pounds, Troy had a gastric bypass. Within two months he no longer needed insulin; his dose of Glipizide and his blood pressure medication were dramatically reduced; and he no longer needed medication for acid reflux. The numbers on the bathroom scale were getting smaller and smaller.
Within months of his surgery, Troy returned to his job at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. “It was easier to climb in and out of airplanes after I lost some weight,” he says of his return. He also found it easier to exercise, alternating between walking and running four miles, four-to-five days a week.
Married with three children, Troy says, “I was accustomed to being the Big Guy in the family.” Today he proudly passes the title onto his two sons who are serving overseas in the military.
An 80-pound weight loss has resulted in a completely new wardrobe to fit Troy’s new 34-inch waist. “Even my feet are smaller!” His appetite also has decreased. “I used to be able to eat five or six pieces of chicken and a can of biscuits with no problem,” he laughs. Now he’s happy to split a restaurant meal with his wife instead. And he no longer drinks soda. “Water is just fine with me!”