"Today I can honestly say, “I love life!” I know I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn't for Otto Siegel. You see, I am a type 1 diabetic (which means I’m insulin-dependent), and for the past three years, until now, I was an extremely suppressed person. I guess you could say I was suicidal. I would abuse myself by not taking my insulin until my blood sugars were through the roof because I thought being skinny meant everything in the world, and I was going in and out of the hospital because of it. I looked good, but I was dying on the inside...literally. It was affecting my concentration in school and my ability to enjoy life. Every day after school, I would come home, eat, and pass out on the couch until dinner, and then go to bed. My life consisted of nothing.



My doctor insisted that I go to therapy. So, I tried that. I swear I saw at least three different therapists, and they all said the same thing. They were explaining what was wrong with me, and they all wanted to put me on drugs. One of them even wanted to send me to an inpatient treatment center for up to 6 months. I was definitely not happy to hear that.

Then one day, my dad came home and said to me, “I want you to meet this man who I think can really help you.” The following week, my family and I visited Otto at his office. Then, I realized from the knowledge I learned from that visit that he could help me. I currently see Otto once a week, and I feel revitalized every time. He has brought out my true self and has shown me things about myself that I would have never believed. Through the first couple of sessions, we created something called a Genius Profile, which is a profile about me, stating all my strengths, needs, and learning styles. I look at this every day to remind myself how special and smart I really am.

This profile really built up my confidence to take care of myself. Otto also suggested starting a food journal, which I love doing. I write down my blood sugars, everything that I eat, and even my daily workout. Otto has really brought me to life, and I have more energy than I have ever had before. I really had no idea how bad I really felt until I was officially brought back to life.

One special thing that Otto did for me was help me realize my true passion for food. He encouraged me to experiment with different foods and allowed me to meet with Dawn Kennington, who owns Benedict’s Café. I also toured the kitchen, which got me really excited because I love that environment.

I would like to say how much I adore Otto because he really brought me out of my shell, brought me to life, and basically saved my life!"

-Brittany M.