More Carbs, Less Insulin: The Secret to Dana’s Success

Time to Get Off the Roller Coaster

Dana has lived most of her life with type 1 diabetes; she was diagnosed at age 3. For most of that time, she had the classic “roller coaster blood sugar.” She felt a lot of anxiety both in her daily life and thinking about the future. It was overwhelming to think she would have to navigate the struggles of type 1 diabetes for the rest of her life. Additionally, she was recently married and wanted to start a family someday, and she was afraid she would never be able to get her blood sugar stabilized to support a healthy pregnancy.

Taking the Challenge

In June 2022, Dana saw a story that Mastering Diabetes had posted about someone whose A1c was 5.4 while living with type 1 diabetes – and her reaction was, “that’s impossible.” She was intrigued, however, so she bought the book. After reading it, she started implementing the things it suggested, but she wasn’t sticking to the plan as well as she hoped. At the time, she saw that Mastering Diabetes was offering a 6-week blood sugar challenge where she would get support from a coach, and she decided to join.

Having a coach was a game changer for Dana. Having an accountability partner made it easier for her to stick to her desired actions, and it was particularly helpful for her to have someone to talk to who understood what she was going through as she made the lifestyle adjustments.

Improved Time In Range is Invaluable

Dana’s blood sugar is much more stable than it used to be. Her husband has access to her diabetes management apps, and he will comment at how nice her lines look. Even on a day when she complains, “Ugh, my blood sugar is so high right now,” he will remind her that her ‘high’ readings are literally half what they used to be just a few months ago. And because of it, she has much more energy, and much more peace of mind.

While it wasn’t a goal, she also lost 12 pounds. When she stepped on the scale to get her “after” number for the 6-week challenge, she found that she didn’t care what the scale said. It didn’t matter. She knew that she felt so much better, and she knew that she was doing what was best for her body. Those were what truly mattered. So when she saw the weight loss, it was just a cherry on top.

The best part? Dana doesn’t feel worried about her future anymore. In fact, she feels confident. 

She even found out at a recent doctor’s appointment that her A1c is now very close to the ideal range for a healthy pregnancy, something that had seemed impossible in the past – and now, it was happening easily, without effort. “All I do is follow the Mastering Diabetes plan!”

Eating This Way… Works

Today, Dana eats a lot more carbohydrate than she used to, but is taking a lot less insulin. And her insulin needs continue to go down! Eating less fat “has made a huge difference on my insulin sensitivity. You guys are not kidding when you say it works.”

Her favorite things to eat these days are the Middle Eastern recipes. The East African Stew and Moroccan Lentil Stew are two she raves about. She gets excited to go through the weekly meal plan and plan out what she will eat for the week. She genuinely enjoys the food, especially because she knows she is taking the best care of herself by eating this way.

To Someone On the Fence About Giving it a Go:

“You have to go for it,” she says. The changes it has made in her diabetes health and how she views herself as someone with diabetes, have been monumental. She feels better about herself, and her health and quality of life has improved dramatically.

Additionally, Dana said that the people who she got to meet through doing the challenge, who are living the lifestyle they teach at Mastering Diabetes, are amazing and inspiring. Getting to interact with everyone in the program is what she will miss most when she’s done. (Thanks, Dana!! We miss you too)