On "The Sopranos," Aida Turturro plays the kooky sister of a mob boss - an aging hippie whose New Age mantras served as a wake-up call for her brother as he recovered from a life-threatening gunshot wound. In real life, it was Turturro who had the wake-up call three years ago when her doctor sat her down and warned her about the damage type 2 diabetes could be doing to her body.



The actress, who was initially diagnosed in 2001, knew it was time to get her blood sugars under control. Working with her doctor, a nutritionist and other specialists, Turturro learned how to balance the busy life of an actor with the detailed diet, exercise and insulin therapy demands of her disease.

Priority Publications: How has diabetes changed your life?

Aida Turturro: I have a lot of details to think about every single day. I need to do a lot of planning about food. When I take a car ride, I can't stop at McDonald's. I have to think, "Do I have a half an apple with me?" Every time I go away, like for filming, I have to make sure I have my insulin and all my supplies.

PP: Do you think the demands of your career as an actor have made it harder or easier to manage your diabetes?

AT: I don't think I have it harder. But sometimes I'm on the set, we're filming in some weird location and it's really hard. I have to watch the time and watch my food and sometimes it's like, "Guys, can you get me some turkey?" It's hard for me if I'm getting up and filming at 4 a.m. and the next day it's 11 a.m. As a diabetic, you want to keep a regular schedule, like one meal at nine o'clock and one meal at one o'clock. But you can't always do that [on the set].

PP: What about scenes where you are supposed to be eating?

AT: I either don't eat or I tell them, "Just give me vegetables." If it's a wine thing, I can't drink the grape juice [they use] because it's filled with sugar. So I have them go get this dye they use [in water]. I don't eat the pasta. They know on the set, so they're fine when I say, "I won't eat that."

PP: Has diabetes ever interfered with your career?

AT: It's never stopped me from going to work. There are days I have a little struggle, but nobody knows at work. But, you know, I feel so much better [since seeking treatment]. For a while there, because I was out of control with my blood sugars, I was up and down, moody. And I was wiped out for a while - really exhausted. Now, I've got my energy back and I do 80,000 things.

PP: In that sense, would you say this has been a positive experience for you?

AT: I wouldn't say it was positive. I think that it's hard. I wish I didn't have it. It's a lot of work. But I'm grateful that I have it in a time when, with hard work, you can live a very healthy life.

PP: You've been visiting hospitals and speaking with other diabetics about your experience. What's your motivating force?

AT: I've seen how much it helps other people. Even if I get one person to start taking care of themselves, then I've helped somebody.