Later, I Learned...

For decades, most people have considered diabetes a minor and sometimes inconvenient condition that people learn to live with and accept. But it's more than that. Diabetes is a 24/7 lifelong condition that demands control, discipline, costs, and hardships that those without diabetes don't have. It has not received the attention it deserves because it has historically been downplayed by medical associations, foundations, and businesses that thrive from its existence. Later, I Learned is an account of a person beset with diabetes when a young child. For over sixty years, the author struggled with locating and placing pieces in the diabetes puzzle that never fit. Crossen dealt with the dos and don'ts in the education system and struggled to make medication and dietary adjustments in demanding sports like boxing, solo bicycling tours across the continent, mountain climbing, traveling alone internationally, and more. Each attempt at normalcy with diabetes set him back, but he learned, persevered, and strengthened his resolve to pursue his goal of living without limitations. The author's experiences are shared without restraint. They are an honest, raw, and sometimes graphic depiction of what living with diabetes is like for many. Though Crossen's experiences taught him that compromise is sometimes necessary, each setback strengthened his resolve to overcome the disease and discover why a complete cure for diabetes has not been made available.