Health - Living with Diabetes

Carlos goes through the change in his pocket to see if he has enough for a beer at the Atletico club in Fall River. His father, sitting in front of him, ends up buying him a beer and a sandwich. Carlos Raposa, 49, has lived with diabetes since he was 21 years old. Due to some complications heightened by the disease, Mr. Raposa lost both legs below the knees. As his condition has worstened over the years Carlos has had greater difficulty dealing with his condition. Increasingly, Carlos has fallen greater into depression and has turned to smoking and drinking to deal with it. What used to be monthly visits to the hospital has turned into weekly excursions with ever longer stays in hospital. Family members have become ever more worried about Carlos' drop in weight and his inability to move on his own any longer. For someone who was an athletic figure, Carlos has become a shadow of his former self.

Add to Lightbox Download

Filename: h_00015498.jpg
Copyright: PETER PEREIRA/4SEE
Image Size: 3990x2660 / 2.2MB; diabetes health medicine smoking drinking loneliness depression amputation amputee legs wheelchair medical insulin diabetic
Contained in galleries: Health - Living with Diabetes

Carlos goes through the change in his pocket to see if he has enough for a beer at the Atletico club in Fall River. His father, sitting in front of him, ends up buying him a beer and a sandwich. Carlos Raposa, 49, has lived with diabetes since he was 21 years old. Due to some complications heightened by the disease, Mr. Raposa lost both legs below the knees. As his condition has worstened over the years Carlos has had greater difficulty dealing with his condition. Increasingly, Carlos has fallen greater into depression and has turned to smoking and drinking to deal with it. What used to be monthly visits to the hospital has turned into weekly excursions with ever longer stays in hospital. Family members have become ever more worried about Carlos' drop in weight and his inability to move on his own any longer. For someone who was an athletic figure, Carlos has become a shadow of his former self.