Beth Lowered Her A1c from 6.4 to 5.6 and Avoided Insulin Dependency

Hi, I'm Beth Waterman and I live in Superior, Colorado. Formerly lived in Minnesota. And I have 1.5 diabetes. So I might be a little bit unique because I didn't really know I had an issue. ⁓ And I just got tested as part of a Medicare wellness check. They did a hemoglobin A1C and it came back 6.4. And I'd never had a hemoglobin A1C done before. So I had no idea that it would be that high or, you know, usually when I got my blood tested, my blood glucose was okay. So it had never been a worry. But after that test, they felt like I really wasn't a type two type of person. So given my weight and my exercise routine and everything, and I ate pretty healthy, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. And at that point, I'd changed my diet quite a bit. I've never been like a red meat eater, but I just changed my diet then. so then they did the antibody tests. And my GAD antibody was really high. I think normal is 0 to 5, and mine was 250. So I know. everybody just their eyes glaze over when they hear that number. So anyway, that just caused me to just think about this a lot more because I didn't want to be insulin dependent if I could help it. And so ⁓ I had already, after my breast cancer diagnosis, done a lot of just reading and trying to understand a better diet. So I looked at the forks over knives diet. frequently and, you know, got their materials and used some of their recipes. ⁓ And so I was, you know, going down that path a bit. But I think it was through their information I heard about Mastering Diabetes. And so I went on their website, learned more about what they do, got the big book, read the big book, and it was great. It gave me so much good information. And then ⁓ they also talked about their coaching program. And I thought, you know, I really would like to try that. So I just signed up for it. And that was the best thing I ever did. I really was, I mean, I would have fatigue at times, but I had a really strong, I've always had a strong ⁓ workout program, exercise program, and I really have not, I've not eaten bad food for many, many years. ⁓ But, you know, I certainly wasn't, you know, now I have an annual hot dog. Before that, I might have had more than an annual hot dog. But, ⁓ so it just. know, my attention wasn't on my diet except for wanting to make sure it was a healthy diet, especially after breast cancer, because there are certain things you eat that increase your risk for breast cancer. So I didn't want to have it again. So I was at the gym with my friend who is type 1.5 and is on insulin. And she was curious about my test results, my antibody test results. And she said that she had her GAD antibody was 26. And so they told her right away, you're 1.5. I said, first of all, she says, well, what were your test results? And I said, 250. And she goes. my gosh, I think I should take you to the hospital. ⁓ So anyway, that was the moment when I realized, okay, that is really not a good thing. You know, I hadn't talked to the doctor about the test results, but just her experience. And so she, you know, she has a pump and, you know, and so I knew what she had gone through and she'd had some trouble controlling her sugars. She is not on the Mastering Diabetes program or diet. And so I just didn't want to be like that. I mean, when she exercises, her blood sugars go way up. I just thought, I'm not going to do that. I'm going to do everything I can to not get to that point where I need to have insulin or that if I do need insulin, then I can keep it low, my needs. Well, I'm sure I had gotten an email because I think once you get on some of those email distribution lists, you get lots of emails about different things that are related to other things. I was already, you know, getting emails about, you know, diets and forks over knives things and food revolution. And so I'm sure it was an email. And I saw the book that was in the email. They talked about the book. so I ordered that immediately. And then ⁓ they also talked about the coaching program. And so once I had found out this information, it doesn't take me long to decide to jump into something when I know that I may need help to get there. So I just jumped in and did the coaching program. So once I started the program and started working with my coach, who was Linda Rukavina, ⁓ I found out that there was so much I didn't know. Because I thought I was a really healthy eater. ⁓ I wasn't eating any red meat. I was doing the right things, I thought. ⁓ But I found out after working with Linda for quite a while, and it didn't take long in the beginning to understand, you're eating bad carbs, know, rice checks are not a good thing for breakfast, you know, and I also had started, ⁓ I was doing finger sticks for fasting blood glucose and I was seeing an endocrinologist ⁓ and, you know, she recommended and Linda recommended that I get a continuous glucose monitor. So I did that, I still wear it. I mean, I monitor all day, every day. And ⁓ so she really helped me understand how to use that, what to look for, what was normal, what wasn't normal. But the food piece was huge for me. Because when you think you're a healthy eater and you find out you're not all that healthy all the time, know, eating crackers even if, because I'm also celiac disease, so I'm gluten free, which, you know, just kind of. figures because all these autoimmune things sometimes just go together. yeah, so the more I learn from her, it's like you can't eat toast all day. You can't eat gluten-free crackers, you know, even though it's gluten-free, it's still going to raise your blood sugar. So ⁓ it just really helped to learn some of those details that I just don't think people intuitively know, even if you think you're eating healthy. You know, I thought, oh, well, I mean, because it's 1.5, you know, it's not type 2, I tried not to set my expectations too high that, you know, my numbers might not go down as well as if it was maybe type 2 after my reading of it all. But I was pleasantly surprised when it went down to 5.6 after being at 6.4. And so, That just, I would say that just reinforces and it still reinforces what I do ⁓ as far as the diet, the exercise, everything that I do to stay healthy. And ⁓ I mean, I haven't been coaching with Linda for a while now, but nothing has changed. I just stick to it. And, you know, I don't know if you know, but Linda lives in Minnesota and I am from Minnesota and so we go back to Minnesota a lot. So I've seen her a couple times. When we found out that we were both Minnesota people, we got together a couple times. And so the last time I saw her, she grabbed my phone with my permission and said, I want to see your numbers, you know, and so because I'm, I still wear the monitor all the time. And ⁓ she's like, okay. I said, well, I think they've gone up a little bit. I had a period of time where I had. a neck issue and I was on prednisone which spikes the numbers and then I had influenza A which all I wanted to do was eat toast, you know, because I didn't feel good and so she's, and then she looked at him, she's like, these numbers are amazing, you know, you're doing great. And that's what my endocrinologist said, you know, I go in and I say, oh, I think I've been eating too many nuts. The endocrinologist is like, nuts are fine. said, as depending on how many you eat. And so, and then she would say, you're doing great, you know, and I'm sure she sees a lot of people who really aren't doing great, but you know, still, I just getting that encouragement really helps. ⁓ And so it's just been actually easy for me to stay on the diet. I cannot look at a piece of raw red meat now without feeling sick to my stomach. You know, it's just, your body just changes, I think. as far as what it needs, what it wants, and you just don't need or want any of that food that you used to eat sometimes. I don't even really want crackers anymore. So, you know, it's good. My highest was 6.4 when I started. You know, that was my first wake-up call when I had that done as part of that Medicare wellness check. And so now, and I've been down to 5.5 has been my lowest. ⁓ Now I really, the last time I went in it was higher than that. It was 5.8, I think. And so ⁓ I've been, that was after the prednisone and the influenza A and all that stuff. So I get a check twice a year and I'll get a check again this summer. And I want it to be 5.7, 5.6, that's where I would like it to be. I think that's a great question because after you've been following the diet for a while, you don't remember essentially how you used to feel. And so when I started on the diet, and I talked to Linda about this, I had to learn sort of what it feels like to feel full of good food as opposed to what it feels like to just feel full from eating toast and crackers or other kinds of carbs. And so I began to notice that difference. And at first I was like, I'm still hungry. And then I'm like, you're not hungry. You know, it's just different. And so now that's the way I feel when I'm full. I know that I'm full with good stuff as opposed to bad stuff. And so I started noticing those feelings. And that really helped me sort of stay on the food and eating that food because it just feels better. When you eat like that, you don't feel overful. I mean, I never feel overful anymore. My husband will say, because he doesn't follow my diet, so he'll say, don't you want more to eat? And I'm like, no, I'm fine. And so I think it's, well, and I think other people. That's one of the challenges, I think, is that other people don't understand. Like when you go out to eat and you don't want anything with any oil, you don't want, you know, they just think you're picky. And I'm like, I'm not picky. I'm just trying to stay healthy. And so my friends have gotten used to it. And they are like, can you eat this? Can you eat this? ⁓ But it's just, I guess it's a new way of life. ⁓ Even though I was. eating fairly healthy before, I feel like now it's just at a whole different level. Yeah, I think, and I'm not young, so sometimes when I get tired, I'm like, ⁓ is that ⁓ because I'm 74 years old or, you know, do I need to eat something right now? So for me, it's, and I do, like I said, I work out pretty much every day, so that gives me energy as well. But when I combine that with the food that I eat, I feel like my energy is better sustained throughout the day. I don't have the highs and lows that ⁓ I had before. And that makes a huge difference. mean, sure, some afternoons I'm like, OK, I could take a 10 minute nap. But it's never like, I just feel horrible. You just don't feel like that anymore. So that's been really positive ⁓ for me. And if I do get hungry, Because sometimes I find that that's one of my challenges is I may not eat enough during the day because I'm doing other things and working out and then ⁓ I get hungry and then you know that's when I used to want to go for the snacks. You know even if it was a healthy cracker, it's still a cracker. And so ⁓ now I go for the carrots, I go for the berries, you know and so it's just your snacking habits change a lot too. But that, you know, when you eat like that, you get energy again. It's not, you know, it's not like you eat crackers and then you still feel like you need a nap. So. ⁓ It's always, for me, it's always an energy level. I did work out before I found out ⁓ what my results were and what my condition was, but I didn't work out very often. You know, I would work out a little bit or I might go for a walk. Now I do a hard workout, either Pilates, weight lifting, or cardio six days a week. So That to me is a huge indicator of just what I'm capable of doing at my age. A woman said to me yesterday when we were walking out of the workout class, which was kind of tough yesterday, and she's like, do you ever feel like we're just too old for this? I said, well, usually every day, but I always come back. So that has made a big difference. I think switching to talking about recipes, have used lots of various recipes, either from Mastering Diabetes, Food Revolution Network, or Forks Over Knives. But I would say that that is one challenge for me, is because I like to do so many other things during the day besides prep food and cook. So I tend to, and it doesn't bother me to eat the same things over and over. So I tend to go for my standbys a lot. I mean, I made a recipe last night that was ⁓ vegan enchilada skillet. And it was delicious. And I'll eat it for three days. So that's fine. So that's how I tend to do it. ⁓ But I also am often known to just open a can of pinto beans and eat those with a little brown rice. I'm pretty easy. I always have. ⁓ I have salad pretty much always every day, if not more than once a day. And I can remember Linda telling me once that because she's like, she's so good about what she eats. And that's why she's a coach. But ⁓ she told me one time that she sometimes would just eat a hunk of romaine lettuce. And I was like, what? You know. And I find myself when I make my salad, I eat a handful of lettuce because it tastes so good. And I think about her every time. It's like, ⁓ yeah, this was a good thing. So ⁓ yeah, I think that I tend to maybe not use as many of the more involved recipes as some of them are just too much. I just don't want it. We have a grandson that For a while, when I was even coaching with Linda, we had guardianship of him. And so that cut into my time to cook and to prep. we don't have him as a guardian. We're not his guardians anymore. But I still don't often want to make a huge production. So I tend to lean towards the recipes that have fewer ingredients and are a bit easier. Well, it's interesting because when I first started going on the diet, I lost about 15 pounds, or 18 pounds, I guess it was. ⁓ And then I gained some back during the guardianship and ⁓ during I had a total hip. I mean, there were just things that, you know, got in the way of my exercise program. But so I've been able to maintain it about seven pounds more than that. it's which is comfortable. mean, I'm still in the good range and you know, my endocrinologist isn't worried about it. so, but I also have another confounding factor that ⁓ with breast cancer, you're on a drug called tamoxifen for five years. And that has some side effects of fatigue, weight gain, stiff joints. And so some I feel like, and I'm supposed to be able to go off of it in July, so I'm kind of anxious to see, you know, what happens then. But yeah, so it's been five years. I'll be glad to be done. from my experience with Mastering Diabetes, if I have someone who's struggling and this is not, this is an actual scenario because I have had friends or friends daughters, a friend's daughter also who were struggling and I immediately tell them about Mastering Diabetes, the book and the coaching program. And they, I mean, I know that they have looked into it. I don't know that anyone else has done it because I haven't talked to them. I run into people at the gym who talk about, I think my hemoglobin A1C is too high. And I never hesitate to just say, this is what I did. And it has helped me so much. If you don't take the first step, you're going to have to take 10 steps backwards because it's just, you know, that's how I felt. It's like I need to get on this now. This is not something I can put off. mean, even though my age, no matter what age I was, I would have felt the same way. ⁓ You just have to do it immediately if you want to get ahead of it because that's what I feel I was able to do. So far, I got ahead of it and I have been able to delay using insulin for a number of years already. Before Mastering Diabetes, my hemoglobin A1c was 6.4. And ⁓ after starting the program, I was able to get it down to 5.6. Which I haven't. I have not been on any medications and I've avoided any GLPs. No. So I've been really lucky that I haven't had to be on any medication for diabetes. The investment with Mastering Diabetes program was worth it to me ⁓ because I was able to essentially change my life. I would have paid more for the program ⁓ because the impact that it had on how I felt, how I was eating, what my blood sugars were, and the fact that it was preventing me from ⁓ needing insulin in the future, ⁓ It just made a huge difference. Okay, looking back on my experience with the Mastering Diabetes program, I feel like it changed so many things for me. Physically, I feel better. I can exercise more. Emotionally, my moods and my energy are not as volatile as they were before changing my life with Mastering Diabetes. And I would do it again in a heartbeat. Well, I had been introduced to a plant-based approach actually through the gym. One of the trainers had said, you know, I have been going on the plant-based approach and I have given up, you know, all these fancy high protein diets. And this is a guy who was lifting a lot of weight. He was, he's a trainer and, ⁓ and he said, I feel great. And so I had heard about a plant-based approach. approach and then ⁓ I had been toying with it a bit after I had my breast cancer diagnosis because I felt like I just needed to get healthier and healthier with my diet but I was still eating fish and chicken and turkey and you know no red meat but you know other types of meat not even thinking about olive oil always thinking olive oil is healthy thing ⁓ so I just after I learn more about it, it just really made more sense. And it isn't any harder to cook without olive oil. I found that out. You know, there's just so many things that you think, ⁓ how could you possibly, you know, saute something without olive oil? And it's like, well, of course you can. You use a little vegetable broth. You know, I mean, it's just like you learn all of these things that make it. easier to stay on the diet and just have it become part of your life. Okay. I think that the coaching program was, I mean, the book was great, but I would not have made the changes I was able to make without having my coach, Linda. And she was amazing. And we had our Zoom calls every week and, you know, she got to know me. She knew what I liked. She knew, I mean, I saw her, like I said, you know, a couple of weeks ago, we hadn't seen each other for a long time or talked for a long time. And she said, are you still eating tomatoes every day? Because I just have this fetish for tomatoes. I eat a lot of tomatoes. And so she remembered that I eat tomatoes. And I said, yeah, if you went into our little apartment right now, you would see a big bowl of tomatoes on my counter. So, ⁓ so yeah, it's like you just get to know the coach personally and they just provides so much support ⁓ and always there for you and so knowledgeable. I that's the other thing is like she knows so much about insulin dependence, about glucose monitors. I mean, way beyond, you know, changing my diet and, you know, she just, you know, we found things that we both loved. We both loved doing Pilates and, you know, we could just relate to a bunch of different things that we. both in joy, which was also really fun, but made it even easier to do the things. And I never wanted to disappoint her, you know? I mean, when we talked every week, you I wanted to make sure that I had been towing the line on what I needed to do. So she kept me accountable as well.