“Take me to Mount Sinai,” said Adam Block to a Pearson Airport cab driver on February 3, 2009. For more than 24 hours, he had been suffering from severe abdominal pain, fading eye-sight and raging thirst.

Block, a 34-year-old Toronto marketing executive, was on business in Las Vegas and Washington D.C. While he was in Las Vegas, mysterious symptoms began. By the time he arrived in D.C., he could not tolerate his deteriorating health. He visited a local pharmacy to get a prescription, but the pharmacist directed Block to a doctor at the walk-in clinic down the street. He was met by a receptionist who refused him care because the clinic was unfamiliar with his Canadian Blue Cross number.

“I knew I wasn’t well, but I had no idea what was wrong with me, says Block, who had a healthy medical history. “Given my physical state, it was clear I needed emergency care.”

His colleague booked him on the next flight to Toronto. Block was getting sicker by the minute in the Dulles airport before boarding his plane.

Finally back in Toronto, Block - as quickly as he could - made his way from the Terminal to the line of airport taxis. He urgently told the driver: “Take me to Mount Sinai.” The cab driver battled through rush hour traffic on the way to Mount Sinai. He arrived in the Emergency Department where the triage nurse asked him to describe his symptoms. She immediately suggested he could be diabetic and proceeded to check his levels, which were critically high. Shortly after, an Emergency physician diagnosed Block with type 1 diabetes – formerly known as juvenile diabetes that is caused by a deficit of insulin. He was put on an intravenous drip, insulin and acid-suppressing medication (to stop his stomach acid production that was causing him abdominal pain).

“I was relieved to finally get the medical attention I needed,” says Block. “Mount Sinai’s doctors and nurses did a commanding job at diagnosing me and providing me with excellent care. I have so much gratitude for this Hospital and its health professionals.”

Block was admitted to the Medical Step Down Unit, where he was treated, monitored, and received diabetes education for the next four days. Dr. Andrew Morris, General Internist and Dr. Bruce Perkins, Endocrinologist, provided Block with an overview of his disease and the game plan. During his stay, he also received detailed information and guidance from the diabetes educator Barb Cleave, dietitian Ruth Carswell, and the nurses Derrick Kent and Maria Pacheco in the Unit.

“My health-care team took the time to explain type 1 diabetes in full detail and how it would affect my day-to-day life,” says Block. “I was provided with a blood glucose metre, needles for rapid and long-acting insulin and was instructed how to use the gear. The biggest hurdle was getting over the fear of the disease and accepting my new regimen. The health-care team did an extraordinary job at comforting me while preparing me for life with diabetes.”

Months later, Block says he feels great.

“I started to feel better within a day of receiving insulin treatment at Mount Sinai. I continue to eat movie popcorn – one of my guilty pleasures – and enjoy a beer with dinner once in a while. It’s never tasted better. I started to run again and I am gradually getting my stride back. While my insulin levels are not perfectly maintained yet, I continue to learn about my own body and adjust to my new lifestyle. Thanks to the wonderful care at Mount Sinai, I understand the disease and how to control it, instead of letting it control me.”