Hi all. First day of joining the site, mostly at the insistence of my dad to share my last 6 months. I'll caveat at the start that what I write below is of course a subjective experience but I know also that a lot of us, me included, struggle daily with our diet, health, trying to get back to where we once we're, or perhaps get to a place we have never reached.
So late September last year I was diagnosed type 2 after a hba1c of 116. Pretty high I learned and my dad (deliberately he said) set about scarring the life out of me to fix it. I'm 41, married with a (now) 8yr old, and being told I might not make another ten years was frightening. So he set me on the keto road, testing my blood each day, but also not going straight on to a medicine solution; try fix it the natural way first.
I'll say from the outset keto is hard but the keto app was essential to monitor what I was eating. Then there's the food itself; pre diagnosis I didn't eat that great but it wasn't exactly kebabs every night, but only post diagnosis did I realise how much carbs are in our foods. It was an eye opener. Anyway, the next 3 months were hard, really hard, but the weight came off and my bloods started to improve. Then it was Christmas.....well we'll skip that bit but suffice to say "a week off" saw the weight shoot back (not all of it) and a new year of struggling to get back into keto. I have done so but fall of the horse bit more regularly than I did pre Christmas.
In between all of this I've engaged with the diabetes team but the last few conversations I've felt rather disgruntled at the nurse's response to "I'm trying keto not medicine" and "I test my blood myself", and whether intentionally or just poor bedside manner in their part, I felt **** about being diabetic. The sign off of our last call was "well we'll just have to see what your next hba1c is".
Which brings me to the title of this (long) post. Just got my result and as of this week my hba1c has gone from 116 to 39. I'm not as light as I wanted still but I'm encouraged. And wonder with intrigue what the nurse will say given I've refused medicine and tried a diet which the medical profession seems to hate.
It's hard work and my first thought was "oooh I can celebrate with a pizza" but I know I can't and I have to change that thinking entirely. But I hope, really hope, I've started a new journey that I can continue on and control so I am here in the next 40+ years rather than just the next 10.
So late September last year I was diagnosed type 2 after a hba1c of 116. Pretty high I learned and my dad (deliberately he said) set about scarring the life out of me to fix it. I'm 41, married with a (now) 8yr old, and being told I might not make another ten years was frightening. So he set me on the keto road, testing my blood each day, but also not going straight on to a medicine solution; try fix it the natural way first.
I'll say from the outset keto is hard but the keto app was essential to monitor what I was eating. Then there's the food itself; pre diagnosis I didn't eat that great but it wasn't exactly kebabs every night, but only post diagnosis did I realise how much carbs are in our foods. It was an eye opener. Anyway, the next 3 months were hard, really hard, but the weight came off and my bloods started to improve. Then it was Christmas.....well we'll skip that bit but suffice to say "a week off" saw the weight shoot back (not all of it) and a new year of struggling to get back into keto. I have done so but fall of the horse bit more regularly than I did pre Christmas.
In between all of this I've engaged with the diabetes team but the last few conversations I've felt rather disgruntled at the nurse's response to "I'm trying keto not medicine" and "I test my blood myself", and whether intentionally or just poor bedside manner in their part, I felt **** about being diabetic. The sign off of our last call was "well we'll just have to see what your next hba1c is".
Which brings me to the title of this (long) post. Just got my result and as of this week my hba1c has gone from 116 to 39. I'm not as light as I wanted still but I'm encouraged. And wonder with intrigue what the nurse will say given I've refused medicine and tried a diet which the medical profession seems to hate.
It's hard work and my first thought was "oooh I can celebrate with a pizza" but I know I can't and I have to change that thinking entirely. But I hope, really hope, I've started a new journey that I can continue on and control so I am here in the next 40+ years rather than just the next 10.
Last edited by a moderator:
