OK, here's my success story and although there is a large slice of personal happiness in the tale, I really hope that it encourages others to take control of their own conditions.
I was diagnosed Type 2 6 years ago when I was 48, with a Hba1c of 49, which at the time was the cut-off for diabetes. I weighed around 19 stones at the time and ate a very carb heavy diet.
Over the next few years I largely followed the NHS recommendations and my condition worsened rather than improved. I was constantly hungry and craved carbs like an addict, which is really what I was.
2 years ago I attended a NHS healthy eating course, which again promoted the 'wellness plate'. At the time I was on 2 metformin per day and the diabetic nurse was pushing me to up the dose to 4 per day, as my Hba1c was 89.
Totally dismayed, I read about the low-carb way of eating on this forum and started reading a range of literature. Books by David Cavin, Jason Fung, Gary Taubes, etc. I'm one of those people who really needs to understand why I'm doing something, before I can apply myself to it.
Fast forward to July 2020 and I started to follow the Michael Mosley Fast 800 diet, modifying it to limit carbs to less than 20g per day. I weighed 19 stone and my Hba1c was 79. I stuck to the Fast 800 plan for 12 weeks and reduced my Hba1c to 42 and dropped nearly 4 stones in weight.
Since then I have adopted a ketogenic lifestyle. My weight has continued to drop and my health has improved remarkable. I no longer take any metformin or any other diabetic medication. I'm now off the 2 blood pressure medications that I've been taking for nearly 15 years (a water tablet and a beta blocker). I still take a statin each evening, but I have requested a review of this in April.
Today I weigh 12 stone 12lb and my last Hba1c in February was 32. My blood pressure is as close to perfect as you can get. I think I must be the healthiest I've been in my adult life and although I feel great, I can't help feeling that if only I'd have known what I know now, much of my poor health could have been avoided. I really hope that the message starts to get through in a big way, as so many people could be helped and millions of pounds could be saved.
Thanks for reading