TCOYD, which stands for Taking Control of Your Diabetes, has been a fixture in my life for the past 10 years. It’s an incredible one day health fair that’s offered around the country, and it’s coming to Tucson February 23.

For only $15 (or $10 apiece for 2 people or more) if you register by noonFebruary 20th, you get a full day of learning from diabetes experts, endocrinologists, pharmacists and personal trainers who will ignite your motivation, answer your questions, share advice and recommendations, offer hope and can even change your life, or that of someone you love, who’s living with diabetes! Day of the event registration costs $20 per person.

I attended my first TCOYD conference eight years ago and it was there in a workshop being led by psychologist/CDE Bill Polosnky that I heard words that changed my life. He said, “Diabetes doesn’t cause diabetes complications like heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and amputation. Poorly controlled diabetes does.” When I heard that I knew if I really took care of my diabetes, I could improve my health dramatically.

Now here’s your opportunity to learn, do better, take charge of your health, help prevent or delay complications, have fun – and meet other people with diabetes in the process. 

TCOYD’s founder, Dr. Steven Edelman, has been living with type 1 diabetes since he was 15 and decided learning about diabetes shouldn’t just be for medical professionals, but directly reach patients. Now that’s a doctor who “gets it.” So since 1995 TCOYD has been educating patients around the country. Dr. Edelman is 57 today and living well with his diabetes, as am I.

To register, or to get more information, call 800.99.TCOYD (800.998.2693) or visit www.tcoyd.org. If you can’t make it to Tucson, the next event will be in Santa Clara, California on March 23rd. Trust me, you won’t be sorry. This can be the first day of the rest of your better life with diabetes.