Converging Hope

About the Book

Converging Hope
by William J. David, Ph.D.

In the United States, an estimated seventeen million individuals suffer from diabetes mellitus. Equally alarming radiates the reality that the number of individuals inflicted each day propels drastically. Indisputably, diabetes is a serious and crippling disease, if uncontrolled. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and as recently reported by the American Diabetes Association, the annual medical and lost productivity costs have risen to $132 billion.

The author of the book vividly describes a true story of personally living with type 1 diabetes since 1938. The seventy-four-year-old diabetic professor depicts sixty-seven years combating the challenging disease. Lucid accounts portray the skirmishes that were associated with this factual adventure. The author manifestly portrays the challenge of vainly seeking normalcy while burdened by the unrelenting demands from the illness. Diabetic-related experiences contributed physically, psychologically, and socially to who and what the author became. Some of these bitter encounters lie deeply repressed and mutely hidden in the unconscious mind, never to be remembered, while others are entrenched in his conscious memory, never to be forgotten. The author brings these subdued memories unrelentingly to the surface and vibrantly shares them with the readers of this book.

The adventures addressed in the book address four major objectives. First, the author describes the restrictiveness and outright dangers associated with diabetes that he experienced for more than six and a half decades. There were some delightful episodes, but unfortunately, most were blemished by far less pleasurable outcomes.

The second major purpose of the book focuses on how the author survived the many diabetic battles at different stages in his life. In these cruel and brutal encounters labeled survival, what were the challenges dealt him and how did he resolve them? His relatively long and active life, itself, stands to illustrate the fact that diabetic longevity is obtainable but not without grave consequences that actually lead to the third objective in the book.

The third point targets the monstrous impact that diabetes forced upon the author, his family, and others throughout his life. As a result, these fervent pressures, like overwhelming diabetic management, remained constantly vigilant during all phases of the author´s life. His extended survival speaks on behalf of his successful defense against the dreaded disease.

The last major theme emphasized throughout the book reviews the impact of technology on diabetes and the management of it. Based on firsthand experiences, the author skillfully compares diabetic management strategies, supplies, and equipment of the 1930s with the technologically advanced replacements we employ today. The author is particularly attracted to these scientific marvels in the treatment of diabetes because they are undoubtedly responsible for his continued longevity. Furthermore, he realizes that the growing hope for a cure will energize through continued, superbly designed research. Consequently, the author is pledging 50 percent of his profits from this book toward research and philanthropic organizations that target diabetes and vision problems.

These objectives are addressed throughout the book as they reveal the author’s story of surviving diabetes since 1938. Each chapter unveils various segments of his true adventure, particularly as it relates to the scientific advancements in diabetic control and management. A brief glimpse of each chapter follows.

Prologue: The author features a brief episode in his current life that dramatically portrays the motive and reasons for writing the story. In addition, the prologue establishes a theme for the narrative.
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About the Author

The author and his wife presently reside in North Texas. They enjoy four children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Diabetes struck at age seven, plaguing all endeavors throughout his longevity. Management of diabetes since 1938 generated his deep understanding of diabetic issues. Although experiencing many problems, he financed his baccalaureate and MA degrees. He taught emotionally troubled students before earning his Ph.D. Subsequently, he pursued higher education, teaching, research, and administration. Numerous articles targeting the educationally challenged are to his credit. The seventy-four-year-old retiree is a cancer survivor. His hobbies include travel, fishing, gardening, and university consulting.