Our Publisher, Steve Freed,  had a chance to sit down with the “Beav” Jerry Mathers at the 61st Scientific Session of the American Diabetes Association.                  All of us remember the lovable Beaver Cleaver, Ward and June’s Kid and Wally’s Little Brother. Jerry was diagnosed with diabetes and since then has been active helping people the world over learn the importance of self-care Here are some excerpts from his interview         How did you first find out you had diabetes?   I was living the good life, going out eating having fun, and before you knew it I had gained 60 lbs.  My doctor who is a good friend of mine saw me and said you better come in for a physical. I told him repeatedly that I feel good, there is nothing wrong with me, I see you when I am sick and you give me medicine, so why come in when I feel great?  He continued to cajole me and so finally I came in after 1 to 2 years for a physical and lab work. He called me and asked me if I would like to live more than 3 to 5 years? Of course I said yes. So he informed me I had HBP and Diabetes and if I didn’t do something about it I would be gone in 3 to 5 yrs. Basically that’s what motivated me, either do it or die.  When he told you this was this your first inkling or had you heard or thought this before?   I had no symptoms, I did not feel sick. I looked around me and I knew I was overweight, but didn’t know  how the weight was affecting me. I was busy traveling and speaking and eating out a lot and that’s why I thought I was gaining the weight.  Did your doctor do a blood sugar test, and did he just tell you, you had diabetes or did he share the result with you?  He told me I was running between 480 and 500 (mg/dl). I had very high sugar, and my BP was 182 over 130 and that’s why he told me I did not have long to live.  Aside from the numbers I felt great. That is why it is such an insidious disease, although some people do have symptoms early on many, many more like me don’t know they have it. In fact if my doctor had not been my friend and keep hounding me, I would have never known.  Did you have diabetes in your family anywhere?   No, not at all.  What did he do then? Did he send you for education, start you on medicines, give you a diet?   He started me immediately on insulin, then on pills, and a whole regimen of things to do. But I needed to lose the weight. So I went to seminars to learn about portion control, as this was my biggest problem.  What do you do now for glucose control?  I am a runner. I usually run 2-3 hours a day, so it is basically diet and exercise.  What do you do to help others?   I attend a lot of these types of functions and do a lot of work for the American Diabetes Association.  Where do you think diabetes is going in the United states and what’s going to happen in the next 10 years?  The lucky part is that your are better off right now if you have diabetes than you have been in the past 50 years. There are major breakthroughs coming soon and new things now.  I think, had I been diagnosed 15 years ago it would have been a much harder road to follow and seem much more complicated and frustrating.  It is still a complicated disease now, even though you can self medicate and care for yourself.  You have to be responsible for it, no one else can do it for you. It is hard because you have to plan your life and activities around your diabetes. On the good side there are so many new products on the market right now and all those thing make it a little less complicated.  Do you monitor your blood levels on a daily basis?   I have monitored them on a daily basis before, but now it is usually every other day?  What was your last HBA1c?   Within the limits, last time it was 7.5. Because I am traveling so much  I try to have one every month.  You are basically self-educated, I take it you never went to a formal class.  You are right and I should probably learn more. But over the first 6 months after I was diagnosed I lost the 60 lbs, and was off all medication. I do know that as I get older it can creep back. That is why I go to the lab once a month and check my glucose every other day. I know if you don’t self manage and control it it will get the best of you.    Mr .Mather’s interview was courtesy of Door to Door Medical Supply Inc. Beaver Trivia  Jerry Mathers told a story at a book signing, about a detective search that was done to find Rusty Stevens who played Larry. The detective finally located the house where he lived. He went up to the front door inquiring about the child star. His wife responded by telling the individual that he had the wrong house. She went back in and told Rusty the story. Rusty said to his wife that the detective was correct in his assumption. Flabbergasted, his wife asked, Well, why didn't you ever tell me about this? Rusty told her, it never came up in the conversation