The Project: Kuwait

How US Ambassador Lawrence Silverman Manages His Diabetes with Diet and Exercise

May 25, 2019 Mahdi Aloun, Meg Guthmiller, Liam Glynn Season 1 Episode 47
The Project: Kuwait
How US Ambassador Lawrence Silverman Manages His Diabetes with Diet and Exercise
Show Notes

Time Stamps:

2:25 – United States Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence Silverman tells Mahdi and Liam about the symptoms that led to his Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis 9 years ago. At age 54, he was totally surprised, especially because he didn’t have a terrible diet and he didn’t eat many sweets.

5:05 – He discusses the treatment plan that his doctor recommended and his experience working with a nutritionist. Ambassador Silverman and his doctor tried several different medications to help him control his diabetes before deciding to come off of the medication and focus on strict diet and exercise instead.

8:33 – Ambassador Silverman talks about his journey so far and encourages others with diabetes that it can be managed.

10:18 – By making conscious choices such as reducing his portion size, eating more fruits and vegetables, switching to skim milk, and focusing on moderation, he has found success.

11:59 – He describes how he gets exercise in during his busy schedule and the increased energy level that he has throughout the day as a result of his diet and exercise routines.

13:57 – Ambassador Silverman provides listeners with suggestions for managing stress levels.

15:40 – He lists some of the helpful tips that he learned from his nutritionist.

18:34 – The diabetes rate in the US is 9% and in Kuwait is 24%. Ambassador Silverman recommends that kids and young adults be tested early so their parents can make adjustments to their diet and exercise and potentially prevent diabetes.

20:56 – He discusses the importance of getting a good night’s sleep by intentionally winding down by listening to music, a podcast, or a white noise machine rather than staring at a screen right before bed.

24:20 – In the Kuwaiti context, Ambassador Silverman has found that most people at diwanea and other gatherings are understanding of his dietary restrictions.

27:21 – He emphasizes the importance of moderation and not being too lenient or too hard on yourself and your body image.

29:21 – Listen to your own body and reach out to a doctor if you feel like something isn’t right.

30:40 – Ambassador Silverman talks about some of the programs that the US embassy has been participating in and hosting in Kuwait: sports diplomacy, baseball and softball leagues, and bringing professional athletes to talk to families. He emphasizes the importance of charting a course for the whole country to be healthier and have more fun being active.

Links: 

Ambassador Silverman’s biography: https://kw.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/

 

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