Carl Armato was just 18 months old when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. From an early age, he learned how to manage his condition with the help of his parents, who pushed him to live a full, healthy life despite his diagnosis. His journey with diabetes, he says, ignited a passion for a career in health care. Today, Armato is president and chief executive officer of Novant Health, one of the largest health care systems in the Southeast with 500 locations across Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In 2018, he published his second book, “A Future with Hope: An Inspiring Guide for Overcoming Diabetes,” which takes a frank look at diabetes and how it shaped him into who he is today.
What inspired you to write “A Future with Hope”?
For years, I had been jotting down notes for my future grandchildren who could possibly one day be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I wanted them to be knowledgeable about things that they may not learn from their doctors. The moment of inspiration to transform these personal accounts into a book came from a young girl who approached me with tears of hope in her eyes after I shared my journey at a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation event. She told me she had never heard anyone talk so positively about diabetes and that my story had inspired her. It was after speaking with her that I decided to turn my personal journal into a memoir that chronicles how I’ve gained resilience from disheartening moments by remaining positive throughout my journey.
How did your diagnosis with type 1 diabetes impact your family growing up?
When I was diagnosed, there were no glucometers to measure blood sugar and no pumps to automatically inject insulin, so each morning my mother would monitor my urine glucose levels with a chemistry set. I grew up in a rural part of Louisiana with the nearest hospital hours away, which meant I was only able to check my blood glucose levels once a month. During hospital visits, my mom would sit with our pediatrician to make sure she knew everything she could about my disease and how to manage it effectively. Knowing that I would eventually have to learn to take care of myself, my parents took the time to teach me how to make good health choices from a young age. They focused my attention on two things — knowing my sugar readings and how insulin and exercise could effectively combat the dangers of high blood sugar. They pushed me to eat healthy and be active so I could experience a long, fulfilled life, and I’m forever thankful for their support.
As someone living with a chronic disease, how are you able to use your perspective as a patient to successfully run Novant Health?
My experience living with a chronic illness like type 1 diabetes allows me to look at the organization through the eyes of a patient, rather than seeing the system as numbers in an excel sheet. Today’s health systems must be patient-focused organizations, and that starts with putting oneself in the patient’s shoes. I’ve seen firsthand the difference it makes to have a health care provider who truly understands what it’s like to manage a complex and/or chronic condition. If we want to truly improve our country’s health care system, we must be compassionate caregivers and draw upon our own experiences.
What are some of the ways the health care industry can be more inclusive when it comes to treating patients with chronic illnesses?
Patients and their caregivers need simpler, more convenient access to providers and must be given the ability to have a voice in their care. It also goes without saying that we need to make health care more affordable so patients, especially with chronic illnesses, can focus on getting the right treatment and staying healthy. At Novant Health, we are partnering with other health care providers throughout our footprint to improve the future health of our communities by contributing millions of dollars for a variety of free programs to promote healthy living, such as mammograms, cancer prevention education and weight management support groups and classes. By leveraging the latest technology, increasing access to affordable care and continuing to tailor brick-and-mortar services to reach excluded communities, we are reaching the patients who most need our help. I believe that employers also have a role to play in ensuring their employees receive the care they need. At Novant Health specifically, we provide insulin pumps and testing supplies to all employees living with diabetes through our durable medical equipment supplier, covered at 100 percent.
What would you tell someone newly diagnosed with diabetes about staying positive in the face of adversity?
Knowledge is power. Newly diagnosed patients should learn everything they can about the condition, the treatments and new developments and discoveries. It’s essential to remain committed by making healthy choices, eating right, exercising, relieving stress and maintaining a strong support network.
What do you hope readers will take away from “A Future with Hope”?
I want readers to know that even though they will experience challenges, they can still do anything they want to do in life. Diabetes does not have to prevent them from realizing their dreams just like it didn’t prevent me from realizing mine. That said, I feel that anyone living through a trying time or facing a personal challenge can benefit or relate to the account.
Armato’s tips for those diagnosed with diabetes:
- Educate yourself.
- Be your own advocate.
- Maintain confidence to figure it out.
- Know your numbers!
- Maintain activity levels.
- Remain flexible when faced with obstacles.
- Overcome your ego to know when you need help.
- Realize that every day is a chance to maximize health and life.
What is diabetes?
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both types of diabetes are chronic diseases that affect the way the body regulates blood sugar, or glucose. Glucose is the fuel that feeds your body’s cells, but it requires insulin. People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin, while people with type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin as well as they should and later in the disease often don’t make enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, can occur at any age.
Diabetes in the United States
- 3 million Americans of the population have diabetes; that’s 1 in 11 Americans
- 2 million Americans have undiagnosed diabetes
- 5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year
- About 5 percent of the population with diagnosed diabetes have type 1 diabetes; approximately 90- 95 percent have type 2 diabetes (1-5 percent have other, rare types)
- 2 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese
- 1 million Americans aged 20 years or older have prediabetes, and 90 percent of them don’t know they have it
Source: American Diabetes Association
