Inspiration And Expert Advice: Famous People

Fran Carpentier – Parade Magazine Senior Editor
Diabetes type: 1

Fran Carpentier has worked in magazine publishing for more than 25 years. Today, as the Senior Editor of PARADE, national Sunday newspaper magazine, Fran wears many hats: She originates story ideas, assigns writers, and is also responsible for two of the magazine’s most popular annual issues — “What America Eats” and “Live Longer, Better, Wiser,” an indispensable guide to living that covers health, fitness, sex, personal finance and more.

An avid spokesperson on living with diabetes, Fran can attest to the very real demands of balancing a chronic illness with full-time work and motherhood. She is a tireless advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has been featured in numerous publications on the subject. She is also frequently called upon to serve on boards and on panels in areas relating to journalism, food, overall health — and diabetes.

A native New Yorker, Carpentier received a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism in 1976 from New York University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Fran recently served on the Board of Directors of the New York City Chapter of the JDRF. She also has served on the Board of Directors of the Overseas Press Club and the New York University Alumni Association. She is a member of the Newswomen’s Club, Women in Communications, and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Fran is married to Ira L. Salom, M.D. They reside in New York City with their precious miracle, Benjamin, 11.

Fran Carpentier’s message to the dLife community: "When I was first diagnosed at age 14, I knew that diabetes was serious business. But I also knew that I wasn't going to make it ruin my life. I never fought it, I never denied it. I guess you could say that I grabbed the ball and ran with it. I truly believed that, if I did the right thing – which to me meant finding the smartest doctors and following their advice – my life would turn out all right. And, you know something? It has! It really, really has. This doesn't mean that my diabetes is easier than anybody else's. In fact, I spend oh so very much time taking care of my diabetes by doing blood checks before every meal, taking the appropriate bolus (I use a pump), making sure to eat the right foods AND the right amount of food. It just means that I have a 'good head' about having diabetes – most of the time, anyway."

Watch Fran Carpentier on the Oct. 16, 2005 episode of dLife.