sarah_chadwick

Hi, I'm 46 years old, diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 4 years ago. Have to be honest and tell you that for the first year I didn't do anything about it, naively thinking the tablets would do it all for me! A year after diagnosis I was taken in, my heart decided to play up (was born with a hole in it) it hadn't affected me all my life until then. I had to have open heart surgery and a pacemaker fitted, talking to the professionals in the hospital about how I manage my lifestyle etc. I was given a bit of a telling off, so I started to read and research PROPERLY about diabetes and how I can help myself. Once recovered from surgery and able to, I started walking each day, slowly with a walk around the block then building up to 3-4 miles ( I was off work for 7 months so was able to do this daily, and slowly). Next was to look at what I was eating, my husband and I had always followed slimming world plan and so ate 'healthily' but now I realise far too many carbs (they are free food on the plan) and so I set about reducing them, while still on the plan, it helped and my levels dropped slightly, but the weight didn't come off, I'm not massive but need to lose about 2 and half stone, so after researching the 5:2 set my mind at giving it a go this year and haven't looked back since. I find it easy to manage, I don't feel hungry on my fasting days which is strange but true, I don't feel the need to 'pig out' on normal eating days either, I have treats at the weekend if I feel like it (odd glass of wine with a meal) or some dark chocolate/bag of crisps and I feel great, in control and look forward to seeing my Hb levels at my next check up in May! It took a while but I think I've finally got my head around diabetes and that I CAN make a difference myself.