In 2014, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and was told I had six months to lose enough weight to not be put on a medication called Metformin. This motivated me to lose weight, even though I never used to care what I looked like. With the threat of being put on medication to control diabetes, I was determined to eat healthily and lose weight. I started going to the gym and working out religiously four times a week, really pushing myself to shift the weight.
And… it worked! At my six month checkup I had lost enough weight to drastically bring down my blood sugars. However, summer happened and I got out of my routine. I started eating bigger portions of the wrong foods and lost interest in the gym. The most exercise that I did was walk my dogs.
The next steps
At my next update with my diabetic nurse to find that I had put on 2kg over the few months that I was at home.
Once again, the news pushed me to try and avoid going on medication, and thus my relationship with the gym started to bloom once more. I was then at 82kg, and I was determined to lose that extra weight before my next appointment.
Not only does working out help me lose weight, it also helps to keep my depression and anxiety at bay. I find I feel so much happier for working out and I feel much better about my body. Progress is very slow; but in the past few weeks my mood has improved, and by eating right and working out as much as I can, as well as going to vigorous rugby training sessions, I have managed to lose 2kg in about 2 weeks. It is a lot of hard work and dedication as I train at least 4 hours or more for rugby each week plus going to the gym when I can and trying to eat smaller portions of healthier and leaner foods.
However, it is all worth it as I can now fit into a pair of shorts that wouldn't even get round my waist a year ago! I’m well on my way to losing weight and outrunning not only my diabetes but also my mental health issues. It just takes determination and perseverance.
I have a long long way to go before I beat my disease and get back down to a healthy BMI but I know I will get there and no longer be controlled by my disease and my mind.
