One Soldier's Diabetes Battle in Iraq

WESTPORT, Conn., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine trying to manage diabetes, insulin and diet under the stress of surprise artillery fire. When U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Mark Thompson signed on to serve his country, he not only ended up in the battle of war, he ended up in the battle of his life. After his career reached its height as a combat arms commander he had to reassess his military career because he was diagnosed with diabetes. He was told that being deployed to Iraq with his unit was an impossibility. Soldier Thompson had other ideas. The full incredible story of dedication and perseverance will be shown this Sunday on dLifeTV on CNBC (Sundays at 7:00pm ET). dLife is the only diabetes media and education network.

When told he would not be allowed to serve in Iraq because of his diabetes, Thompson found that answer "unacceptable". He began his quest to serve his country as he had been trained and that was to be on the battle field. "Diabetes was not going to stop me from being who I wanted to be" Thompson states in the segment of the show. His extensive due diligence, included laying out his complete back up plan to deal with his diabetes in the heat and sand of Iraq, convinced the Army to allow him to serve with his unit under he strict guidelines that he could be sent home at any given moment if need be. He was tested almost as soon as he arrived as his body armor containing over 50 pounds of supplies including ammunition for his M-16 crushed his insulin pump destroying his automatic insulin delivery system. Knowing that it would take more than a month for the mail to arrive with his new pump, Thompson began a tight regiment of up to 14 shots a day and an abnormal amount of blood testing, "in order to make sure that I wasn't going to be a causality of diabetes to where I was going to take someone out of the fight." Thompson ended up serving his entire 12 month duty in Iraq and was also awarded the Bronze Star given for heroic or meritorious achievement of service.

dLife Creator Howard Steinberg said, "I have a new hero. Plain and simply put, the story of Army Sergeant Mark Thompson is one of the most inspirational stories I have ever heard. This was not only a good story for the dLifeTV; it was an honor to present. He is a Diabetes American Hero." This Sunday, catch a new episode dLife TV, the weekly show which inspires, informs and connects the diabetes community with stories about real people, celebrities, cooking segments and information from top diabetes experts.

About dLife

dLifeTV is the first and only national weekly lifestyle series devoted to living with diabetes, and http://www.dlife.com/ is the largest independent website with diabetes information. The dLife.com Viewing Room offers original streaming video content - unique and entertaining diabetes information for people with diabetes, with prediabetes, or who have a family member with diabetes. dLife, the first and only multimedia platform for diabetes information, inspiration, and connection, is produced by LifeMed Media. dLifeTV airs every Sunday on CNBC at 7:00pm ET, 6:00pm CT, and 4:00pm PT. The dLife Diabetes Minute is also heard on radio stations around the country and on XM Satellite Radio.