Being re-diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after 10 years was an unexpected blessing.
My initial reaction was shock, perhaps shame and embarrassment too. All I wanted to know that day was "How bad is an A1c of 9.9%?" One of my online search strategies took me to a post by blogger David Mendosa. In it he described how Richard Bernstein, M.D.'s diet restored his blood glucose levels to the normal range. I was all in (and at the same time both angry and disappointed that neither my doctor, my endocrinologist, or my endocrinologist's nurse told me about the low carbohydrate diet).
I bought the book, Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution, 4th Edition, and a glucose meter kit. I gave away or threw away the foods I could no longer eat. Within days I was on the diet. I dusted off my scale, began weighing and journaling the food I was eating, and graphed my blood glucose levels as they began to drop. I began reading more books, often while I was walking.
I learned the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods, learned how to cook, and continued to walk. Initially, I lost 26 pounds, gained 12 pounds back over the holidays, re-lost 4 pounds with 8 more to go, but I'm in no hurry. My BMI is just above the normal range now.
I feel so much better. I got an eye exam. Eyes are fine. All my health markers improved, some dramatically. What I now realize was the beginnings of peripheral neuropathy reversed. Feet swelling that began when I crossed over from pre-diabetes to diabetes is now minimal.
Today, when I talk with friends and acquaintances who have diabetes, I wonder if in time they'll be persuaded to travel the road I chose.
When I started my support, education, and walking group almost a year ago, I really thought I'd be overwhelmed with people who'd want help. Sadly, the group grew by an average of one person a month. Most continued, a few didn't. It's been inspiring to watch them move forward. When they, like me, begin to experience improvements too, it makes me want to work harder, both on my behalf and theirs.
@Spirit01 I believe your co-worker feels trapped. My best guess is that she feels she's gained too much weight, has done too much damage to her body, and wrongly believes there's no going back. She's likely felt helpless for a very long time, dutifully seeing her doctor, talking her insulin and medication.
When the time is right, have a copy of of Bernstein's book handy with links to websites that helped you written inside. I suggest you wrap it with no tag so she doesn't know what's inside until you present it to her. It may take months or years, but hopefully, someday, she'll do more than just leaf through it, and then perhaps she'll regain a glimmer of hope...
She's watching you. I know it's discouraging to watch someone you care about not doing well. Try not to feel too discouraged. Instead, inspire her through your example. You won't have to say or do anything. She'll follow your ups and down, but when you begin to change, trust that she'll notice. The hardest part about caring for others is patiently waiting for them to realize they're not trapped, they have choices too. If she has no hope, hold on to her hope for her.
I know it's hard, especially when you feel hurt by her comments. Stay the course.