When Licia Schock of Tamaqua was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year and a half ago, she handled the news with a matter-of-fact, can-do attitude that has not only made her healthier and happier, but is motivating others to follow suit.

At 50, Schock, a 20-year recovering alcoholic who has battled depression since childhood, listened as her doctor, Craig Krause, told her the news and accepted that she would have to change her eating habits, forever. Since she was diagnosed, she has lost 70 pounds; her son, Harold Schock III, 28, has lost 40 pounds. His once most prized possession, a deep-fat fryer, now sits gathering dust, he says with pride.For Schock, it was a matter of choosing to take care of herself, to treat herself with the respect she deserves."Everything that I've battled with in my life, there is nothing in this world that we cannot accomplish," Schock says as she sits in a conference room at St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale. "I set a goal. My health is more important to me right now."Growing up in an Italian family, Schock loved pasta. Now, she limits her consumption to a half-cup. Now, she eats "a lot of salad." She often tops the salads with chicken, fish or other protein."I don't cut all the foods out of my life. When we get pizza, I only eat one slice. But I have a big bowl of salad along with it," she says.On Thursday, instead of helping herself to big servings of stuffing, mashed potatoes and or the cheesecake she'll make for her son and his Dad, she'll have a little stuffing, a spoonful of mashed potatoes, a big salad with turkey on it, and perhaps a slice of sugar-free pie for dessert."I'm not going to deprive myself," she says. "I'm happy. I feel good."She keeps a pair of pants she wore 70 pounds ago as a reminder of how much better life is now. She can walk up stairs without gasping for breath, and the weight loss has helped ease her back problems."I'm more active," she says.Schock and her son work out at the gym at St. Luke's, and she participates in the Diabetes Support Group at St. Luke's, which will resume in March.Harold Schock, who lives at home, said his mother's diagnosis will help him avoid continuing a family history of the disease."It's helped me a lot. Knowing that she had diabetes, it really changed my outlook on life as it will be later on down the road. It got me back in the swing of being active and working out. It also changed my eating habits. I was a big fan of fried food. It was Burger King, McDonalds, whatever. If it was deep-fried, I was good. I have the most amazing deep-fryer at home. Since she's had diabetes, that thing has not had oil in it. I do not use it any more. Now, I eat everything grilled or broiled."Schock credits clinical dietitian Jennifer Gross, who is a diabetes educator, with motivating her to adopt the changes."Support from her is 100 percent. She's wonderful," Schock says.Gross demurs, saying her job is the easy part. It's the people diagnosed with diabetes who have the hard work, she says.Gross said that when she first saw Schock, her A1C levels, a measure of blood glucose, were 10.2 percent."That's really, really high," Gross said. "But because of all the things she's done, her last A1C was down to normal, 5.4 percent. She really just embraced everything she needed to do and she did it," Gross said. "Because of that, she's living a healthier life, and we are proud of her."Gross said Schock participates in St. Luke's' Diabetes Support Group, where she motivates others to take good care of themselves by following the prescribed diet and exercise programs.Avoiding too many sweets, watching calories, measuring amounts of food and checking blood sugar is not always easy to do, Gross said.She points to Schock as a good example for others to follow."She's no different than anyone else," Gross said of Schock. "She doesn't have any more resources than anyone else. She still has the same struggles as everyone, and she was still able to take this on and do what her doctor wanted her to do. And because of that, she'll continue to live a healthy life."For more information about the diabetes program at St. Luke's, Coaldale, call Gross at (570) 645-8107