29/12/2023
This is my sisters story, she’s done so well and still going!…
Such an inspiration 🥰🥰
So. This time last year I was worried. I'd been tired so much, I was so thirsty no matter how much I had to drink, certain foods would hit me really hard and I felt exhausted right down to my bones. There was a lot more of course, but I also knew what those were a sign of so I had made an appointment for a blood test.
I had that test in January which did show high blood sugar level, high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, but they were reluctant to as it was so close to Christmas and it can throw the readings off. I had another one booked for the end of March and in April I was officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Because my blood was low enough not to need medication quite yet, it didn't feel real and I admit, although I knew it was there, I ignored it. Until i went high in which case that wall of exhaustion, kinda hard to ignore!
But anyway, in July I had my next test and my yearly diabetic eye test, the bloods in the July test were a bit higher than before but again, not high enough to require meds, but it was getting there. However, what really worried me was the eye test. It showed that I had (and still do have) early onset retinopathy which can lead to blindness.
As someone who adores reading, likes to draw, this was harder for me to ignore so I started making plans and working out how I could beat it.
At the beginning of August I spoke to my sister who had been a Cambridge consultant a couple of years ago but had let it lapse, she had been thinking about starting up again so I signed up as a client intending to start the plan in September which I did.
In the meantime I started cutting out stuff and lowering my calorie intake to prepare, I also stated drinking more water because suddenly having to drink 2 1/2 litres a day out of nowhere can be a bit daunting and was almost primarily why I stopped it the other times I'd started it.
Anyway, by the time I'd started the plan I had already lost a few lb and when I got into it the weight started dropping off which has been amazing.
In November I had my next blood tests, my nurse was fully expecting me to be put on medication this time around. But when the drs got the result I was called and told I had to go for another one to confirm the results and I admit, I was a bit worried. But looking on the NHS app I could see my blood test results and I was astounded.
I'm gonna get technical now lol.
To be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes you need to have a hbac1 blood test that hits at least 48, my first one was 50, second 52 and 3rd was 53 (you can see why she was prepared for me to end up on meds). My hbac1 test results in November, well, that one was 31!!!!
To be diagnosed as Pre-Diabetic you need to be between 40 and 47.
I was ecstatic! I've already spoken to my family about this so they already know, holding it in and not being able to say anything until it was confirmed has been hard.
But as of today when I was finally able to see my diabetic nurse (my appointment at the beginning of December was cancelled as the poor soul caught COVID) I am in diabetic remission!
I have to go have another blood test in 6 months but that's just to check my levels stay stable, I'll have to do that every 6 months now, but at this very moment I am no longer diabetic!!!
I'm still a bit shocked. I knew it was coming after reading the results, but to actually be told it by a medical professional, that's something else.
It can come back, I know that, and the retinopathy won't ever go away, that can't be cured, but as it's caused by the thickening of blood caused by diabetes, I've halted it in its tracks.
I DID IT!!! I beat it!