Jeanette’s Journey to Prediabetes Remission

Dr Jedha: 0:02

Hello wonderful people. Dr Jedha here and thanks for joining me for episode 88. I honestly feel so blessed in my job because I get to hear from our members all the time through our member check-ins and through their quarterly one-on-one feedback reviews, and I love hearing people’s progress and helping with challenges too, of course, because it’s not always smooth sailing when it comes to our health journey right. But I love it when members put their hand up to meet with me to chat about their progress and results. In this episode I’m chatting with Jeanette, who opens up to share her story, the journey of finding our program, the results she’s experienced and how much better she’s feeling in life overall.

Dr Jedha: 0:50

You never would have known that Jeanette had never had a Zoom meeting before this. Like many members, they’re always a little bit nervous when they first join our chats, but really I’m not at all scary and it was only a few minutes before Jeanette and I were chatting like a couple of friends who have known each other for a long time. If you’re one of our members listening to this, be sure to reach out and let’s chat, because it’s always inspiring for other members and people outside the members community, like listeners of the podcast, to be inspired and encouraged by what’s possible when you join us as a member. So I’ll leave it at that and we’ll get straight down into the chat with Jeanette. A great place to start, I guess, is when you first came into being a member. One of the things you left was something like you know, you were tired of the information overload and you talked about a little bit about family history. So you’ve got a family history of diabetes?

Jeanette: 1:58

Uh, both my parents and my sister all had type 2. My mom she was around early 40s when she was diagnosed. She was great, though. I mean she took it really seriously and really watched what she ate. She lost like a hundred pounds and eating while she did she was an inspiration. My dad was probably 60 or 65 when he was diagnosed with type 2. Or 65 when he was diagnosed with type 2 and he’s, he’s. He lived until he was about 80. Well, he was 88, but those last 10 years because of that diabetes and I mean he went downhill so bad it was not a good life those last 10 years. And my sister, I think she was in her 40s when she was diagnosed also.

Dr Jedha: 3:23

That’s interesting. So for you, when were you diagnosed?

Jeanette: 3:29

I read through my after visit summary, yet they never said anything to me. But I read through my after-visit summary a couple years ago and they said and that summary said I was pre-diabetic. And then I went back and saw that I had been like borderline for several years.

Dr Jedha: 3:54

Okay, interesting. So the doctor never said anything to you about your diagnosis at all?

Jeanette: 3:59

They didn’t really address it at all. They did testing. They did glucose and lipid testing and A1C.

Dr Jedha: 4:13

Yeah, so they did the routine testing, the fasting glucose, lipids and A1C, but they didn’t tell you that you were borderline or that you had any issues, so you had obviously no idea.

Jeanette: 4:24

I felt fine. I did. My weight was creeping up, but I felt fine so yeah.

Dr Jedha: 4:26

And that’s the thing, because often there are no obvious symptoms, even when blood glucose or A1c might be on the rise, or even if you have diabetes, which is why a diagnosis comes as a surprise to so many people. So how did you come to realize that you may be in some trouble then?

Jeanette: 4:49

Because of my dad, I was watching my fasting blood sugars and those were what really bothered me, so I didn’t really get concerned about it until my fasting was like 110 to 120 and I could not, no matter what I I ate, it seemed like I couldn’t get it lower than that. That’s when I kind of got a little concerned. It’s like, well, you know, in my head I knew, I know, you know, I I heard all this, I’ve read a lot I’ve because of my history, but it didn’t hit, it just didn’t sink in until, okay, I’ve got to do something about this, even though I feel okay.

Dr Jedha: 5:33

Thanks for sharing those challenges, Jeanette, because it can be a hard thing to take. At first you were feeling okay and even though you had that background knowledge about numbers, your brain just wasn’t clicking that you had prediabetes, and it’s a good thing for other people to hear, because I know lots of people find themselves in a similar situation. You know it can be tough, so so again, yeah, thanks for sharing that. So I wonder, how did you move forward from there?

Jeanette: 6:04

It really helped. My husband had a foot surgery. He was going to be no weight bearing for 12 weeks and he had had the other foot done and ended up gaining a lot of weight because he was inactive. We didn’t want that to happen this time, so I started doing a lot of research about diet just to stop the weight gain. I found out that you could get a CGM without a prescription now, so I got one and I could really see what my blood sugar was doing when I was eating different things, and that was an eye-opener.

Dr Jedha: 6:55

Yes, monitoring with a continuous glucose monitor, it is usually a huge eye-opener for everyone. And what were you eating before you joined the program?

Jeanette: 7:05

Oh my gosh, when I started your program I looked at how many carbs I was eating. I was cringing because I had a lot of rice dishes. I’m getting a little off track here, but, like I don’t know, seven, eight, nine years ago I went gluten free. I had a lot of inflammation and I went gluten free and I felt so much better. So what I focused on for nutrition was gluten-free. Just said, okay, if it’s gluten-free, I can eat it. That probably did not help me at all.

Dr Jedha: 7:47

Very true, very true. It probably wasn’t helping at all, as you discovered by your CGM and understanding diabetes nutrition better once you joined us. But you know, something interesting to point out is the gluten-free thing. This is such a common problem. Many people think eating gluten-free means diabetes friendly, but of course, many gluten-free foods or products are higher in carbs than regular wheat options, as you discovered yourself. So, basically, you’re on that journey of looking for a solution to help your husband as well to avoid that weight gain, and you’d started seeing some eye-opening data for yourself, and then you came across us and discovered our program?

Jeanette: 8:46

Having that GM data, knowing how my glucose was striking really high for some of this food, I thought I have to do something about it. But the first few things I looked up, they sounded very interesting, but they were sales pitches, you know they, they made you, they hooked you in, they gave you a free podcast or class or, and then to continue, you had to spend a lot of money, like there was one that was fifteen hundred dollars for for 12 weeks. Like, I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to do that. They basically gave you a list of foods that you could eat and then they had a Facebook group so you could have conversations with the other people.

Jeanette: 9:47

I was getting a little like, should I even keep looking, because there were so many of them? But I kept looking and that’s when I found your site and your site seemed like you had so much more resources. But, yeah, I was so happy to find your site. You have a lot of resources and everything makes sense.

Dr Jedha: 10:17

Well, I’m so glad you found us and you know we’ve heard similar stories from other members like this. You know you go down that rabbit hole on social media or the Wild West web and there are so many con jobs out there you really do have to be careful. I mean, one of our members paid $5,000 for some program and when they joined us for such a low price they honestly couldn’t believe it. They said our site offered way more resources and proper support than what they paid for the 5K they dished out and I mean I just can’t imagine. I mean I can, but I can’t, you know…

Jeanette: 10:53

Yes, you know I didn’t really trust a lot of what was being said on on other websites because they seem to be in it for the money, right. I mean it sounds so crass, but yes that’s what it seemed like.

Dr Jedha: 11:09

Right, and you’re probably spot on, because it is, they don’t care. So, in saying that, what’s been your experience then of joining us and being a member?

Jeanette: 11:26

Every time I had a question. There’s the library, there was the feedbacks, feedback that that, like the when I first came in, was great timing because it was like a weekly feedback and that was when I had all the questions. So that was perfect. And then all the recipes oh my gosh, there were so many recipes I tried that were just absolutely wonderful, and you know my meat and potatoes husband actually ate them. So it’s good, that’s great, yeah, and you know, and it’s just, I felt so much better and then it seemed like I could think better.

Jeanette: 12:13

After like a month or so well, probably less than a month, I wasn’t as tired and I could think clearer. That’s when I actually started looking at some of the extra information you had on the microclasses and by that time, I was, I could trust you and the website, both. That I felt like it was, it was not something that was just being said just to have a following or it worked. It worked. And so I knew from what I felt and what I was doing and the results I was getting, that it worked and it was true.

Dr Jedha: 13:07

That’s so fantastic, Jeanette. You’ve used the member check-ins to get that personal feedback and you’ve explored all the resources and discovered that we are real people who do actually care, and so I guess that brings us to the results. So can you talk about what your results were four months ago and what they are now?

Jeanette: 13:28

When I started looking at trying to eat better in November, my weight started at 252. I joined at the end of December. I had lost seven pounds, so I was down to 245. I was already feeling a little bit better. But once I started on your program, that first month I think I lost 11 pounds. I can’t. I don’t remember exactly.

Jeanette: 14:00

But, I weighed yesterday just so I could get a number for you, 218.6. My A1C before the program was 5.7, and this last one was 5.4. Cholesterol I don’t remember the last time I had a cholesterol less than 200. For at least 15 years it’s been over 200. So last year was, you probably have the numbers there, 236…I think it was..

Dr Jedha:  14:30 yeah, 236, that’s right.

Jeanette: 14:34

And it went down to 189, and the lipid profile just looked amazing compared to the last 15 years. It just looked amazing and so basically, when she looked at it, she said, well, we kind of like the HDL a little higher, but keep doing what you’re doing, so.

Dr Jedha: 15:00

That’s so exciting, isn’t it? It’s great when you get the confirmation back from the doctor that you’re doing everything right, and, of course, you can’t deny when those results are actually there. I mean it. Your health is improving in so many ways.

Jeanette: 15:14

I feel better, I have more energy.

Dr Jedha: 15:17

That is just so wonderful. I can just see it in your face as well. I love that about meeting with members. It’s because it really changes your life, doesn’t it? On so many levels.

Jeanette: 15:28

Yes, it does. I feel like I can do more and I I enjoy things more. You can do more that you want to do. I’ve been able to do a lot with grandkids. 

Dr Jedha: 15:45 Yep, yep.

Jeanette: 15:47

I guess I don’t want to focus on food, but even trying the new recipes just it’s so enjoyable 

Dr Jedha: 15:51 Yeah, I think was it you in the last member check-in just recently that said it’s so much more enjoyable like all this fresh food and how much more enjoyable it becomes.

Jeanette: 15:59

It is.

Dr Jedha: 16:03

Well, keep on going. You’re doing everything right and I just can’t wait to hear more progress as you go along. But thank you so much.

Jeanette: 16:13

Well, thank you. Like I said, it’s really a lot. I really did not know who to believe after all the stuff I read, all the stuff I listened to and it’s like, oh my gosh, I don’t even know what to believe anymore. But now I do.

Dr Jedha: 16:32

Well, that’s wonderful, that’s wonderful, and thank you for sharing with others to get the word out, helping me as well, so we can make sure that people do actually get the right information. That’s the hardest thing, too, for someone like well, for us, because we are genuine and trying to get through all that social media noise and everything else that’s out there. It really helps when members step forward and are prepared to share their story, because people really love that and can see what truly is happening. So I really do appreciate it. Thank you.

Jeanette: 16:45

Oh, you’re welcome. 

Dr Jedha: 16:47

What a fantastic conversation with Jeanette. I really appreciate her openness in sharing so many parts of her journey, from discovering she was pre-diabetic almost by accident to realizing that information overload and all those conflicting messages online were leaving her more confused than ever. Her story is a great reminder that even when you have knowledge, like Jeanette, knowing the numbers or seeing her family history it doesn’t always sink in right away. Sometimes it takes that personal tipping point, like noticing fasting levels creeping up or seeing your loved one struggle to finally spark real change. And it’s also so encouraging to hear how, once Jeanette started making changes choosing better foods, exploring new recipes and using the program’s resources and support. Everything started to shift. Her A1c, cholesterol, weight, energy, mental clarity, enjoyment of food and even her ability to keep up with the grandkids all improved. It’s a powerful example of how progress in your health can ripple out to every part of your life.

Dr Jedha: 18:30

Now I usually like to ask people what advice they would give others wanting to make changes in their life, and I forgot to ask Jeanette on our call, but I did circle back via email. At first, she said she’d made quite a few mistakes in her life so didn’t feel qualified to give advice, and I reminded her we’ve all made mistakes. Sometimes the best advice comes from lessons we’ve learned the hard way, because it can help someone else avoid those same pitfalls. In any case, Jeanette did share her thoughts and she said if life gives you the opportunity to be healthier and happier, be grateful and don’t let the opportunity pass you by. Change is hard, but once you start feeling better, it gets a lot easier. She added that that might sound cliche, but she believes it to be absolutely true. There’s so much to look forward to, and I couldn’t agree more.

Dr Jedha: 19:29

It might not feel like that for you right now. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by a diagnosis or stuck in a place that feels like a deep hole you can’t climb out of. Or maybe you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing is working and it’s tempting to just give up. Please don’t. Your next breakthrough might be right around the corner. So keep taking small steps, keep learning and keep reaching out for the right kind of support. Like Jeanette said, be grateful for the opportunity to change and embrace it, because the payoff is not just in the numbers, but in how much more fully you get to live your life. 

Thanks so much for listening and to Jeanette for sharing. 

Until next time, take care and keep putting your health first.

Dr Jedha, over and out.