De Yoe may be slim, but says that he occasionally has “compulsive” eating, which instantly increases his blood sugar. His wife Carmen prepares healthy meals, and De Yoe is counting every carbohydrate on his plate, which is probably boring but extremely necessary.
Physical fitness is also critical to diabetes management, and Korducki notes that when fitness centers closed or limited hours, some have been distracted from their exercise routines. Now, in the middle of winter, cold and icy weather can make jogging and walking outdoors less attractive and safe. De Yoe was unable to attend his regular bi-weekly indoor volleyball games during the pandemic, and while he was dancing with Carmen, “That doesn’t happen either.”
Walking has become his go-to stop, with De Yoe praising the local trail systems and using a treadmill as an indoor option. Especially when his blood sugar is high, staying on the treadmill can help lower it. When the weather is nice, he likes to go on trips with his dog Skye.
Korducki notes that any form of physical activity is beneficial, whether it’s doing laps around your house, walking up and down stairs for a few minutes, or following fitness videos on YouTube.
Although he has long been informed and vigilant about his health, the significance increased profoundly in October when De Yoe signed COVID-19, likely via the spread in the community. His case was moderate, says De Yoe, with symptoms like shortness of breath, fever, and body aches. He was able to avoid hospitalization with a home surveillance system from Mayo, which he believes gave him the best chance of recovery.
