Research study participation helps lower man’s risk for diabetes
Elmo Winters has been participating in research studies at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center for the past 17 years.
"I've learned how to eat right and exercise, and my lifestyle is a lot healthier now thanks to everything I've learned through participating in studies at Pennington Biomedical," Winters said.
Building a healthy lifestyle is important to Winters, who lost both his mother and his wife, Amanda, to diabetes.
"I've seen first-hand how diabetes just robs you of your quality of life and slowly kills you. I took care of my wife for years before she passed away, and I watched as the disease robbed her of health and vibrant personality," Winters said. "I knew I was at risk for the disease myself, so when I saw the opportunity to join the E-Mechanic study and lower my risk for the disease, I jumped at it."
The E-Mechanic study called for several days of exercise on the treadmill each week. On the next treadmill over, Winters met Therise Hill, who was also participating in the E-Mechanic study. She encouraged him to push himself to exercise even when he didn't feel up to the challenge. She was there to provide a listening ear when Amanda passed away, and over the next several years as the study ended, that friendship in the gym developed into love.
In 2014, Winters and Therise were married. They continue to exercise together to maintain their lowered risk for diabetes and energy for their busy lives.
"My heart is stronger now than ever," Winters said with a laugh. "Not only because I'm still exercising, but because Pennington Biomedical helped me find true love again."
If you'd like to join a research study, see what studies are currently underway at www.pbrc.edu/healthierLA or call 225-763-3000.
For more information on how you can support this and other projects at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, visit www.pbrf.org.
