Kim Sjostrom died during the Greek song that means “Love Me.”
The 36-year-old Davie, Florida woman wanted a real life version of the film, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”.
After all, she was marrying Teddy Efkarpides of Tarpon Springs, Florida, a Greek fishing village. But less than an hour after the January 16th ceremony, Kim crumpled in her new husband’s arms during “Love Me”.
She died of heart disease. Doctors say she had blockages and hardening of the arteries. Just before, she complained to her new husband about being light headed. Kim was a diabetic and Teddy thought she needed sugar.
Kim had been a poster child for juvenile diabetes with her image featured on New York subways. She had a previous cardiac episode in her 20s.
Diabetes is one of the risk factors for heart attack. Managing diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke according to the American Diabetes Association.
Unfortunately more than 65 percent of people with diabetes die from a heart attack or stroke. By choosing foods wisely, increasing physical activity and taking medications, you can improve your cholesterol levels says the ADA.
Today, including 9.7 million women and 21 million adults and children have diabetes. Amazingly almost one third of them do not know it. For pregnancy, diabetes can cause difficulties such as miscarriage or birth defects. And pregnancy brings on the risk of gestational diabetes which develops in two to five percent of all pregnancies.
The American Heart Association’s Go Red Campaign, with Marie Osmond as spokesperson, helps women with a 12-week physical activity program for women who need structure before they get moving.
Teddy, 43, says “She was my soul mate. She was kind. Caring. She looked past all my flaws to bring out the best in me. She always looked me in the eyes, always with a smile, as if she won the lottery.''
The wedding was a project of Davie Elementary School where Kim taught first grade. The wedding gown had been contributed by fellow teachers. A fellow teacher performed the ceremony. #