Meet Susan
I am a retired department manager from a large manufacturing company: lots of walking time in the factory – but stressful lifestyle and easy access to vending machine food!
Now, as a hospice volunteer, I see many people that have limited time on earth. It reminds me that I want to stay active and adventurous for many more years. But my actions did not support that desire.
With a low frequency of exercise, lousy eating habits and years of this medical advice:
“Your blood sugar is a little high, you should keep an eye on that. Cut out the sweets.”
– I ignored that ‘check engine’ light for decades.
Until one day I got a phone call…
It started last September (2017) with a phone call from my doctor’s office saying those dreaded words:
“Based on your A1C of 8.0 you have full blown diabetes. I’ll send in a prescription for Metformin.”
I responded:
“Thank you, but I am going to work on reducing that number through diet and exercise. If that doesn’t work, then I will fill the prescription.”
I did not want to use pharmaceuticals to address what many publications call a ‘lifestyle disease.’ And to be honest – I’m just not that good at taking pills on a regimented schedule.
Make no mistake: I support those who follow their doctor’s plan of using drugs – it was just not for me.
So, with my doctor’s approval I hired a local nutritionist to come to my home and talk about the food portion of this challenge.
A quick review of available support groups online and I found DMP. Immediately I was impressed with the qualifications of the team and the easy to understand information.
It was refreshing to find a site that I could trust, so I joined the VIP group to get all the available material that I could. And with that I was launched into my ‘Dia-beat-it’ journey.
What kind of diet were you eating before joining?
I ate basically anything I wanted!
Sweets were my Achilles heel – I would never turn down dessert!
Pasta = comfort.
Baked potatoes (with all the fixins’) were a quick and filling dinner.
A candy bar or slice of cake was my reward for grocery shopping.
And ice cream was just a natural next course after a savory meal.
What things have you changed since being a member?
Being a member has changed how I approach food choices – emphasis on choices.
There is a difference between eating anything I want and eating what my body craves to operate efficiently.
I now see that there are so many healthy and satisfying alternatives to high carb meals that I don’t really feel like I’m missing anything.
Please pin, share or tweet to help inspire others; then keep on reading for Susan’s amazing results so far…
The best part is, I’m getting RESULTS!!
In September 2017, my first A1c reading was 8.0 (glucose at 290) and by January 2018, I had reduced to 7.2. Still working on it, I was afraid that I had plateaued.
But, after my May 2018 reading, I was down to 6.8!!
I still have a way to go, but I am confident with my new way of approaching food I will be at my goal of 5.9 by the end of this year. This may be slow progress to some, but I have found that for me this is a marathon not a sprint.
And the results don’t stop at A1c and glucose…
Since September 2017, my weight has dropped from 197 pounds to 173 (I’m 5’4”). That’s 24 pounds (10.8kg). By the end of the year, I expect to be under 160.
My blood pressure was 149/98 and at my latest check-up, I posted 112/79.
Cholesterol was 233, now 212, but the big winner was triglycerides at 413 (!) now 154.
How different is your life now to before?
I feel younger!
(and you would have to agree, Susan looks younger too, right?!)
I have more energy; my skin has cleared up (from rosacea), and my clothes look better on me.
But best of all I feel empowered!
I took control of my life and with the support of the DMP experts – I have no doubt that I will be diabetes free by 2019.
This is a lifestyle change that has affected many of my health metrics. I won’t go back to my ‘head in the sand’ life.
What would be your best advice to people wanting to make changes in their lives?
For me it worked to make incremental changes. Trying to do everything at once would have been frustrating and probably short lived. So I started with joining a gentle yoga group. I eventually added a weekly fitness class and 30 minute walks every other day.
As far as food – I don’t think about what I don’t eat. I look forward to the challenges of trying new recipes and combining unexpected ingredients in a healthy way. DMP provides great support for that aspect through the weekly meal plans.
And yes, occasionally I will eat a brownie but I seriously don’t enjoy sweets like I used to. So those situations are getting less likely to happen.
If you make a food choice that you regret – don’t obsess or give up. Congratulate yourself on the healthy choices you have made and continue on. This is a lifetime commitment to feeling good. Don’t let one bad day torpedo your efforts.
Use a team approach to help keep you motivated – your family, your medical resources or a community like you would find here at DMP.
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Thank you for sharing your story Susan – it’s such an absolutely wonderful story!! And we’ll be checking back with Susan for an updated report in the future. :)
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It’s your turn to take action!
Take Susan’s words of wisdom and put them to work in your own life:
- Start somewhere and take small steps forward each day.
- Focus on what you CAN eat, not what you can’t.
- Pat yourself on the back for the healthy choices you make, no matter how big or small.
- Commit to yourself. Commit to feeling good every day, forever!
- Surround yourself with positive support.
Please show your support right now by leaving your comments and congratulations for Susan below!
You rock Susan! I’m on the same journey. Also slow and steady – it is a lifestyle change, not a sprint to the finish! Keep it up!
You go girl… You rock!
Thank you for sharing your story.
I am on the same journey and I, too, refused to take metformin. I can do this with a lifestyle change in my eating habits and exercise. I know that it works if we work it. You call it DiaBeatIt I call it reversing the curse. Good continued success!!!
Well done Susan, you are an inspiration to many.
Well done Susan.
Thanks everyone for the positive comments!
One thing that I remind myself – sometimes maintaining a healthy lifestyle is hard work. BUT – feeling sluggish, wearing clothes that are too tight, and not fully participating in life is a lot harder.
Keep up the good work everyone! IT’S WORTH IT!!!
Susan
Congratulations, Susan! Thank you for sharing your story with us, and an even bigger thanks for serving as an inspiration to the rest of our DMP community. We love hearing about your success and hope that you keep us posted throughout the rest of your journey! Keep it up.
Gloria and Lesley – Thank you for your positive comments. It’s nice that we can support each other!
Susan
I am also diabetic. I used weighed 265 lbs, now I’m about 212 lbs. My stomach is a little flabby but it will tighten up in time. I pay strict attention to the Glycemic index and load; in short the diabetic food pyramid. I write down my daily food intake on a calendar, which helps me to monitor the results of my blood tests. In early January, I started the 16 hour fast diet. I only eat in an eight hour period and fast for 16 hours. The clock starts when you first put food in your mouth in the morning and then stops eight hours later. It was hard at first but now that I’m in the swing of things it is easy. If you feel hungry drink a cup of warm water. This morning my blood test was 5.3.
Congrats, great work Simon! Fasting doesn’t work for everyone but can be beneficial for many. Even limiting food intake to a 10 or 11 hour eating window can bring great results, which means the fasting time is shorter – 13 to 14 hours.
I live on an island in the Pacific. It’s quite difficult to get the variety of foods usually listed as ingredients in diabetic meals as the choices are not that many on the island. My main concern is that these recipes are only suitable for people living in big developed countries. Are there options for people like us?
Appreciating your advice.
Hi Danietta, We do have members from all over the globe, and our meal plans do offer plenty of variety. Unfortunately though, we don’t have location-specific meal plans. Refer to this food list and make adjustments according to what you do have available.
So amazing! Way to be awesome! Keep up the great rest of your life! I’ve seen way too many people give up and give in and what it costs them. The price is too high to give in. It’s a poor way to live. You are an inspiration!
Very inspiring. I need that kind of support.
Lesley, know that we all at DMP support you on your endeavors to a healthier lifestyle! By finding your own inspiration to make a change you can in turn be a huge inspiration for others. You may want to ask your doctor or search for other support groups in your community if you are interested in pursuing more physical support in your journey. Best of Luck!