I know this is going to sound strange, but I’m going to say it anyway: There is a potential positive side to having a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis! 🫣
Bear with me before you decide I’ve gone totally crazy! 🤪
The fact is, before my diagnosis, I was slowly killing myself – between debilitating fatigue, chronic hypertension and severe neuropathy, I was not in a good place.
Why was I killing myself? What was killing me? Ultimately, it was my addiction to certain unhealthy foods. What diabetes taught me was that the foods I thought I ‘loved’ really did not love me back.
I realise now that I was deeply addicted – both physically, due to the intense dopamine kicks that sugar triggers, and psychologically.
In the past, I’ve had to kick other addictions; I was a smoker, and I had a period where I drank too much. Kicking those habits was incredibly liberating. I’m an “all or nothing” kind of person, and it was really satisfying to take back control of my life from those addictions. And the health boost that came with them.
But diabetes forced me to face the ‘final boss’ of my addictions.
It was the one I honestly never thought I’d crack because, unlike cigarettes or alcohol, you have to eat to live. I didn’t think my natural ‘all-or-nothing’ mentality could be applied to food.
What I realize now, having successfully come out the other side of my carb addiction, is that you can apply that same boundary. I can be ‘all-or-nothing’ about toxic ultraprocessed foods, sugar and carbs, while still eating, and thoroughly enjoying delicious, healthy food!
Facing that ‘final boss’ and winning has been even more liberating. I’ve gotten the spring back in my step – unsurprising, now that I’m carrying almost 50lbs less – and I’m gradually getting back to the level of fitness I had a decade ago. 🥲
I have a lot of hobbies/passions that are very physical – skiing, scuba diving, cycling and more besides, and every year they were getting harder on me. I can now see myself enjoying them for decades to come! 
Skiing is probably my number one passion, and I’d spend a lot of money on ski trips, only to be limited to a half day out on the mountain before my legs would just give up on me! By the time I hit the slopes next winter, I’ll have hit my weight loss target and be the lightest I’ve been in decades, and probably as fit as I’ve ever been! I really can’t wait! 
⛷️⛰️
It’s a sad fact that I almost certainly would never have gotten to this point without my diabetes diagnosis. It was the wake-up call I really didn’t want but so desperately needed. And I’m genuinely glad I’m here now!
Instead of a future that looked like a gradual slide into decrepitude, and realistically an early grave – I feel like I’m getting younger again, and the future now looks brighter every day! 🌞😎
Leave a Reply