One of the key components to controlling diabetes is regular exercise. A small gym devoted to diabetic patients is helping San Antonians on the city’s west side take charge of their disease.
Carlos and Mary Helen Cantu of San Antonio have been married 53 years. They share many things including a serious disease, type two diabetes. Checking their blood sugar is part of their daily routine.
So is exercise. For the past seven years they have worked out religiously in the fitness center at the Texas Diabetes Institute, a medically-supervised program that’s very affordable.
“We pay $12 each per month,” Mary Helen Cantu explained. “And so it evens out to a dollar a visit.”
Nurse Sue Buck is the heart and soul of the program devoted to helping patients exercise safely and reclaim their energy and strength.
“The people in the community that we see are usually people who are not very likely to join a commercial gym because they feel a certain amount of fear,” Buck said. “They’re not sure that it’s safe for them to exercise.”
40-year-old Janie Rose Alejandro joined last month to control her weight and keep her from becoming diabetic. “It’s a smaller community. I mean, even grandmas here are working out. And I think that’s really great when a 73-year-old woman can give me advice,” Alejandro stated with a laugh.
“They’re here with people that are facing similar challenges and have similar goals,” Buck observed. “So it’s a place that feels more like home to them.”
The TDI Fitness Center has been home to some great success stories over its nine years in business. For the Cantus, the promise of better health is enough to keep them coming back.
“I’ll do it ‘til I die,” 72-year-old Cantu joked.
The Texas Diabetes Institute Fitness Center phone number is (210) 358-7206. The assessment fee is $15. The monthly membership fee is $12. It's open Monday through Friday.
