Widening the Aperture: Why I’m Focusing on Life, Not Just My A1C

For years, the gold standard of success in my health journey was a single number: the ever-so-lovely A1C. It’s the metric that doctors lean on, the one that supposedly tells the whole story of how you're managing. But after countless seasons spent chasing that perfect percentage, I’ve realized that a number on a lab report doesn't account for the weight of the cameras around my neck or the miles I clock on a sideline.

As an MLS sports photographer and NFL writer, my life is measured in movement. Whether I’m tracking a winger’s explosive run down the pitch or pivoting to catch the high point of a touchdown reception in the end zone, my quality of life isn't found in a blood draw; rather, it’s found in my ability to be present, agile, mentally sharp, and actually enjoying life.

The problem with perfect

The pursuit of a perfect A1C can often feel like a second full-time job—and one that doesn't offer vacation days. It’s a number that has people living with type 2 diabetes looking for the perfect stat sheet, like athletes chasing the box score. When we obsess over hitting a specific A1C number, we risk falling into the trap of diabetes burnout.

• The mental toll: If the number isn't where you want it, the immediate feeling is often one of failure.
• The restriction: We might stop eating the foods that bring us joy or avoid social situations just to keep the graph flat.
• The physical reality: Sometimes, a "perfect" A1C comes at the cost of frequent, exhausting hypoglycemia.

Dealing with these three burnout factors is a life-draining experience. The mental toll of constantly worrying about the "magic" number can send you off the deep end. That deep end often leads to a dark space of not eating properly to avoid spikes, or overextending workouts that result in frequent bouts of devastating lows.

Shifting the lens to quality of life

In photography, if you focus too tightly on one single blade of grass, you miss the incredible play happening in the background. The same applies to health. I’ve started widening my aperture to look at the bigger picture, asking myself: How do I actually feel?

When I’m on the sideline, I need to be able to haul heavy gear and react in a split second. If I’m mentally drained from obsessing over my glucose levels, my creativity suffers. If I’m physically weak from overly restrictive habits, I miss the shot.

Focusing on functional health

Now, I prioritize my functional health:

• Energy levels: Do I have the stamina to cover a full 90-minute match and the post-game presser?
• Mental clarity: Am I able to write a cohesive, insightful NFL column without the brain fog that comes from extreme highs or lows?
• Joy in movement: Can I appreciate the physical nature of my job without viewing every step as a corrective measure for my blood sugar?

Prioritizing mental health

Positive mental health is the engine that drives everything else. If my mind is in a good place, I manage my health better naturally. When we stop viewing ourselves as a collection of data points and start viewing ourselves as human beings with passions and professions, the burden of management lightens.

I’ve found that my best work comes when I am at peace with my body. That means accepting that some days the numbers will be off, and that’s okay. It’s about the recovery, not the perfection.

The final score

At the end of the day, no one is going to put my A1C on the back of my jersey. They’re going to look at the photos I took and the stories I told.

If you are living a life that allows you to pursue your career, enjoy your family, and move through the world with a sense of purpose, you are winning—regardless of what the lab says. Let’s stop chasing a decimal point and start chasing a life that feels good to live, while still being mindful of what we consume.

After all, what’s the point of a perfect stat line if you’re too exhausted to enjoy the view from the sidelines?