“Dex Geralds has done what every person
living with type 2 diabetes wants to do.
He took his diagnosis and transformed his
life,” says Charlie O’Connell, founder of
GlucoseZone, a digital health app for peo-
ple with diabetes, created by people with
diabetes. “He can say to other people, ‘I’ve
been where you are. Follow me, and you
can transform your diagnosis into a life of
health and wellness.’”
Like most transformations, Geralds’
took time. When he was diagnosed at age
25, he’d already been living around diabe-
tes his whole life. Most of his family mem-
bers either have type 2 or prediabetes. He’d
seen some of them lose limbs and even
their lives to the disease. “It was all dread
when I was diagnosed,” Geralds says. “It
wasn’t a quick, positive turnaround.”
The turning point came a year later,
when Geralds moved from Massachusetts
to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
Without the safety net of health insurance,
he couldn’t afford regular medical care or
medication. He had to learn to manage
diabetes on his own. Geralds tried several
diet plans, including Atkins and keto, as he
struggled for control. It took four years to
find the combination of diet and exercise
that works for him. Over that time, he lost
just 10 pounds but gained steady blood
sugars and considerably more muscle
mass. “I’m a lot leaner now,” he says.
As he was working toward his own di-
abetes management, he knew he wanted
to help other PWDs get comfortable with
exercise. “I started working at a CrossFit
gym, and I saw people coming in with pre-
diabetes or diabetes,” he says. “I thought,
if I can fix this problem myself and share
this with other people, that’s something I
need to do.”
In 2019, Geralds joined forces with
O’Connell to reach even more PWDs.
He created “Transformation,” a series of
nine exercise videos for the GlucoseZone
app, designed for people recently diag-
nosed with type 2. “What Charlie’s doing
is exactly what I’ve been trying to do, to
help people with diabetes have an easier
journey,” Geralds says. “Because of the
platform he has, I can reach so many more
people.”
For a monthly fee, members gain ac-
cess to GlucoseZone’s programs, includ-
ing Geralds’ workouts. In each video, he
takes viewers step by step through a series
of moves, offering encouragement and mo-
tivation along the way. “Transformation” is
one of several programs on GlucoseZone
designed specifically for people with type
- As members move up through three lev-
els of difficulty, the videos show them how
to create a fitness habit.
“I get messages from people who say,
‘I’ve seen you on YouTube or the Glucose-
Zone app, and I want to thank you for your
positivity and the way you took charge of
your diabetes, it’s helped me on my jour-
ney,’” Geralds says. “It’s awesome to know
that I’m helping to save lives and give peo-
ple more time with their loved ones.”
DEX GERALDS / FITNESS COACH & TRAINER
“I’m helping to save lives
& give people more time
with their loved ones.”
PHOTO MARC OLIVIER LE BLANC
