“By strictly following everything Zyla suggested to me and Dr. Prabhat Goel’s amazing treatment, my sugar levels were within normal range in just a month. I feel so fit and energetic. I can now jump and dance with joy as my energy has come back again.”

This is an ordinary story of an extraordinary woman who has moved our hearts with her fighting spirit and hopefully will do the same for you.

Mrs. Shanti Ganesh is a strong, determined and highly motivated woman of 53. She is the wife of a loving husband and a mother of two kind and extremely talented boys.

Even on the professional front, she was nothing short of amazing. She was a highly reputed business and accounts teacher and head of her department in a school for 13 years. With her exceptional working record, she went on to become the head examiner for CBSE 12th boards.

Along with being an educator, she has also been an advocate for the acceptance and inclusion of the differently-abled in our society and made it her mission to spread this message across the world.

With a son on the spectrum

But what makes Mrs. Ganesh’s story stand out from the rest? Well, to start with, her elder son has high-functioning autism.

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition in which the person has a hard time developing normal social skills, non-verbal communication like eye contact, shaking hands and even verbal communication.

As much as this is a diagnosis for the child, the mother’s life changes completely as well. Dealing with the day-to-day challenges of an autistic child, she went from mom to supermom pretty quick. There were several twists and turns in this journey, to say the least but she conquered it all with grace.

“Even going to a restaurant was a tough task. People did not know what autism meant and were quick to judge. It used to hurt me when people misunderstood his condition but I tried my best to educate the people around me that this is not a disease. My child is not disabled, he is just differently-abled.”

Currently, he is 28 years old and an exceptional painter. How he got into the art of painting is one story that she tells fondly.

“When he was in school he wanted to join the art class. But the art teacher was a bit reluctant and doubted his abilities. Nonetheless, he was given a chance. He worked hard and by grade 12, he was painting so well that the same art teacher bought one of his paintings. Now he holds exhibitions for his art. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

But her elder son is not the only one she regards highly. She speaks fondly of Bhavesh, her younger son.

“Without Bhavesh’s support I wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything. I had to neglect him to take care of my elder son but he never complained. He has sacrificed a lot for his family. Everything that I have achieved would not have been possible without his love and understanding. I am grateful to him for that.”

From Autism Supermom to Diabetes Superhero

In February 2020, she was diagnosed with diabetes during a regular check-up. The stress in her life finally caught up to her and caused her high sugar levels. Ironically, this diagnosis brought even more stress. However, she did not break down or lose hope.

“I am my son’s sole support system. I need to be highly charged at all times for him. I could not fall sick and had to immediately take care of my health”

Until now she was looking only after her son and her family, but now the motherly protective instinct kicked in and she knew that she had to look after herself too. She used to be her family’s strength but now her family was hers. With this realization, she started looking for good doctors to help her stay fit and healthy.

Her long search ended when she found Dr. Prabhat Goel in July. She had heard a lot of good things about him and was determined to consult him. Through Dr. Goel’s guidance, she found Zyla.

“It was like he waved a magic wand.. Abracadabra..and sent Zyla to my rescue. I could not be more grateful for this app. By strictly following everything Zyla suggested to me and Dr. Goel’s amazing treatment, my sugar levels were within normal in just a month.”

Mrs. Ganesh, with her immense willpower, that she had developed over the years looking after her son and family, followed every little advice religiously. She was extremely regular and punctual with medicines, diet and physical activity. By the end of July, her diabetes was completely under control as her HbA1c came down from 7 to 6.3 and she had even reduced her medication! Truly inspirational, isn’t she?

“I am Dr. Goel’s top fan. He is a very down to earth and courteous man. He was quick in replying to even the smallest of my queries at any time of the day. I am also grateful to him for sending Zyla into my life. The care team provided me with immediate solutions to my health queries. If I was unable to follow something, they provided me with an alternative solution.”

When asked about her strength, she names her husband without a second thought.

“My husband is my greatest strength. He gives me the motivation to carry on and keep myself fit and fine. He had such a sweet tooth but he even gave up sweets for me! He’s not even diabetic! He said he’s gonna be the perfect example for me and if he can do it so can I. Isn’t that the sweetest thing in the world?”

Her husband, in turn, praises Mrs. Ganesh’s fighting spirit with beautiful words.

“I am proud of her passion and dedication to every goal she sets. The health improvements that she has achieved in our son’s, as well as her own journey, make me feel so elated. I am immensely proud of her.”

-- Ganesh Iyer, her husband

Well truly, Mrs. Ganesh and her entire family seems like the sweetest. Their journey has been nothing short of bizarre and powerful. They have walked the toughest roads hand-in-hand and emerged victorious to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Her message to fellow diabetics

“If you want to be healthier, you have to trust and listen to your doctor and the care team. You need to be open with them and clearly tell them about your achievements as well as mistakes. And of course, health should be everyone’s first priority. If your health is not okay, there is no point in having all the money in the world.”