In his recent reflections, David “Big Papi” Ortiz shares insights from his journey as a baseball legend, highlighting the crucial link between health and lifestyle choices. He emphasizes the importance of relationship-building and advocates for an integrated approach to health.
David discusses how his family’s history of hypertension and diabetes, along with the importance of cultural food traditions, complicates managing chronic conditions.
“I’m from the Dominican Republic, where food is the #1 thing… Diabetes affects the Latino community in a big way…”
His father’s diabetes diagnosis reinforced the need for nutritional education and informed dietary choices for long-term health. The lessons learned from his father’s experience have profoundly influenced David’s approach to health and caregiving, shaping his own lifestyle choices and impacting the next generation of Ortiz’s, particularly his two sons who also play professional baseball.
“My Dad was diagnosed with Diabetes, my dad wasn’t educated well enough to know what to eat and he was a guy with a great appetite… that’s why I pay attention to the things I eat, because it can happen… you could be facing Obesity and Diabetes...”
David emphasizes that health management is a personal journey requiring effective communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals and supportive networks. Advocating for holistic treatment, he integrates medical care, lifestyle changes, emotional support, and wellness practices, illustrating the necessity of addressing health from a comprehensive perspective. By prioritizing his own health and well-being, Ortiz sets a powerful example for his children and others, illustrating that taking charge of one’s health is not only a personal responsibility but also a way to influence and protect those we cherish.
At Novo Nordisk, we stand with patients in the fight against serious chronic diseases, like Obesity and Diabetes. For more than 100 years, we have relentlessly pursued unexplored paths to develop innovative medicines for long-term health for patients throughout the US and around the world.
