BarbaraG

I got a new job, and one of the insurance companies supplying the benefits package called me for an insurance medical... probably because I said on the application form that I weighed 20 stone (280 lbs). As it turns out, I was underestimating by about a stone (14 lbs), and the urine test showed a lot of glucose. Two days later I was in my GP's surgery having my finger pricked. I had Type 2 Diabetes.

That was 4 years ago. The biggest impact at the time was that I had been battling against binge eating, and as part of dealing with that I had deliberately stopped attempting to lose weight, in favour of eating in a more natural way, but without excess. Well now I had a disease for which the cornerstone of treatment was dietary control.

It was a difficult time, but in the last year in particular things seem to have really come together. My eye check six months ago revealed the first signs of retinopathy, and that was the kick I needed to really take control of my diabetes.

I started exercising regularly by going for a walk in my lunch break for 30 minutes. I try to fit some walking in at the weekend, and do some strength exercises at home. I have gradually changed my eating habits, and am currently eating around 1700 calories per day, roughly 55% carb, 25-30% fat and 15-20% protein. This is below maintenance level, and I have gradually lost 3 stone (42lbs) over the past 6 months, my BG is much better, BP is now normal, and I feel really fit and well - despite still being at least 6 stone (84 lbs) overweight.

I keep on reading and learning, and making adjustments to my routine when I read something that convinces me that I could be doing better. But there is always a balance to be struck between the optimum diet and what is acceptable to each individual. I have suffered in the past from trying to follow strict diets, and then having a total blowout. I am much more moderate now in what I aim for, and so far it seems to suit me much better because I am not constantly cheating and going off the rails. Diabetes is a life-long disease, and I will probably still be refining things when I've had it for 50 years - which I hope to live long enough to see!