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Thursday
April 5, 2001
Battling Diabetes
 Best
known for playing the funny fat-guy in the cult-classic
movie "Animal House," Stephen Furst was the butt of
all jokes. But tipping the scales at 320 lbs. was no
joke. He was overweight, out of shape and out of control.
He says, "They had a routine physical exam and that's
when they found it. I was heartbroken."
Diagnosed with type-two diabetes, which prevents the
body from regulating blood sugar, Stephen ignored his
condition. "I did what any other 320 lb. guy would do,
I called for Chinese takeout."
The reality check came when he lost feeling in his feet
and faced possible amputation. He says, "I didn't take
care of myself for 25 years and I started to suffer
the side effects of diabetes."
Now Stephen's a lean low-fat eating machine of 175 pounds.
He tells us, "I just ate a balanced meal and I cut out
almost all of my fats. I would eat a bake potato and
instead of putting butter and sour cream, I make my
own salsa. For dessert, sugar free popsicles."
Eating right, exercise and medication have kept Stephen's
condition under control. He's now on a mission to motivate
the other seven and a half million men with diabetes
in his new video, "Diabetes for Guys."
The video gives the warning signs:
*Extreme hunger, thirst and exhaustion
*Blurred vision
*Numbness in hands and feet
And actions to take:
*See a doctor to test your blood sugar
*Exercise and eat a healthy diet.
Steve says, "A woman might have a symptom and she'll
run to the doctor. A guy will just totally ignore, like
I did."
Stephen's "Animal House" days are long gone but not
forgotten. He carries a picture of himself as a reminder.
He says, "Anytime I feel like cheating I whip that out
and I go 'do you want to be that, like that again?'
Because I'm so much happier now."
And here's some Extra info: 16 million Americans have
diabetes. Nearly 2,200 people are diagnosed with it
every day.
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