He’s always been athletic and competitive so when Dave found out three decades ago that he had diabetes he knew what he had to do – and it wasn't to simply and only take whatever medications were prescribed. “So much of this is about your lifestyle and the choices you make,” he said. “You have to learn to read your body, know what it’s telling you.” As a diabetes coach that’s what Dave teaches his clients, using an approach that stresses education, nutrition and exercise – all with an emphasis on consistency. “My mission is pretty simple,” he said. “It’s to help people with diabetes find a path to better health.” And as he leads clients towards a better path to a restorative journey, his expertise is rooted in not only his own journey and struggles he's been through but also knowing that each person's journey is unique, like a thumb print on your hand.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Dave was 13 when his family moved to East Hartford because of job changes. Making new friends at that age can be difficult but it helped that Dave was an outstanding baseball player. He threw four no-hitters in high school and after graduating was offered a tryout by the Boston Red Sox but he passed on the chance – because as a minor-leaguer back then, he would have made less than he was earning working construction, and money really mattered as he was newly married with a child on the way. Dave would have three daughters, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren in all as well as a few different jobs over the years – primarily in printing, maintenance and culinary, the latter at a technical high school, which proved to be not only a source of income, but also a place to study the lifestyle habits of young adults in high school. He was always healthy with the notable exception of a series of surgeries on his arms and hands because of work-related injuries and when in his early 40s he had some pre-surgery blood work done, he learned that his high glucose reading was elevated and that has led to this.

To 91 percent of Americans, diabetes is, um, something Uncle Ed and also a kid at school have that means you have to pin prick your arm and can’t eat too much candy and so on. But Dave and 30 million others have a much more intimate understanding. They know that diabetes is a chronic, incurable but manageable health condition. They know their body breaks down food into sugar (glucose) and releases it into the bloodstream, and that insulin (from the pancreas) ensures blood-sugar levels don't get too high and helps glucose to get to the muscles to be used as fuel to perform daily tasks. They know their system is off, so they regularly do a finger-prick test or use an electronic blood sugar monitor and take Metformin or some other drug to regulate things. “It was a learning curve,” said Dave, who over time decided to work with naturopathic doctors and follow a Mediterranean Keto lifestyle that includes a low-carb diet emphasizing vegetables, legumes, berries, good fats, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil and fish 2-3 times daily.

His success inspired him to start his business, which he launched in 2021 – right after he recovered from a scary accident. A Harley rider, Dave was going north on I-91 when as he switched lanes he was rammed from behind. He lost control, plowed into a Jersey barrier and after regaining consciousness found out what the pain was from – he had eight broken ribs. But thanks to great care, some titanium plates and screws, and his good health he was riding again in six months. “It was a miracle,” Dave said, and also a catalyst. Dave’s naturopath had been encouraging him to pursue his passion in health & wellness and start a business, and the accident was the clincher. He said one challenge has been predictable. “Some people with diabetes don't want others to know they even have it,” he said. “They don't want to reach out and seek help.” But Dave is there for those who do with a message that he delivers with passion. “You can live your life and still be healthy.”