chronic diseaseAlmost exactly three years ago, I asked blog readers to tell me their stories about going vegan after the age of 50. The feedback I received—almost 200 comments and emails—were an amazing source of information and inspiration for Never Too Late to Go Vegan (which, by the way, is available this month for e-readers for just $1.99).

For a new project, I’m looking for a completely different type of story. Are you a vegan with a chronic disease, like heart disease, cancer or diabetes?  Or high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol that hasn’t dropped as much as you anticipated? Or are you a vegan with obesity? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience.

I’m not seeking stories about people who have reversed their disease with a vegan diet. Those accounts are wonderful, but they are not the focus of this project. Rather, I want to know what it’s like to live with a chronic illness as a vegan and an animal advocate.

From the research, we know that vegans have a lower risk for diabetes and obesity, and probably lower risk for heart disease and cancer. But low risk doesn’t mean zero risk, and there are definitely vegans out there who have chronic diseases.

Does it affect how you talk about your veganism? Are you comfortable telling people that you are a vegan with a chronic illness? Has anyone ever made you feel ashamed about it? Does being a vegan made it harder or easier to deal with having an illness?

If you are willing to share your experience publicly, you can do so in the comments below. If you’d prefer to share privately (I will keep your comments confidential) you can use the contact form on this website.

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