Peggy’s story is a great example of how you can have type 2 diabetes without knowing it, and how we need to change our approach from treating the symptom (high blood sugar) to treating the most typical cause – excess waistline fat. It is a well know fact that insulin resistance “lives” in the excess visceral fat, but many doctors are vary of stepping outside the practice guidelines and often more vary of getting their clients to step on the weighing scales or use a measuring tape to check for excess waistline! Similar to most newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics, Peggy was immediately administered three different medications; for lowering her blood sugars, cholesterol and blood pressure. She was shocked by her blood results as she had been feeling fine and had not been experiencing any of the typical symptoms of high blood sugars. Sadly, her weight or waistline was not checked, and she was not given any lifestyle or dietary advice.

These medications made Peggy feel very unwell. She hadn’t been taking any medications prior to all this, but when she complained about feeling unwell on her medications, she was told that she had no option but to take them. Two months later at her Diabetic clinic visit, she was given two more medications to lower her three month average of blood sugar reading (HbA1c). At no point was Peggy advised that she could reverse her condition by losing weight.

Several well known medical professionals around the world are changing their views on the treatment of type 2 diabetes. We don’t live in the dark ages anymore, and anyone who has access to the internet knows that type 2 diabetes can be reversed. I have had people with type 2 diabetes coming to me after their GP has said that they could reverse their condition, but most commonly they have heard about this from somewhere else themselves. As a medical doctor I am very aware that we can’t keep up with every new protocol for every condition, but we have an absolute crisis in our hands with the type 2 diabetes epidemic and have a responsibility in patient care to prevent it from getting worse! The most researched, efficient and simplest dietary treatment available to reverse type 2 diabetes seems to be the Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet, which is what we use in our clinics. The quick initial weight loss seems to make the body response to insulin again, and after a while, people can return to a normal healthy diet. Peggy found this diet easy to follow, and she felt that it empowered her to think differently about food.

Some people don’t even need to lose a lot of weight to achieve type 2 diabetes reversal. Peggy carried no excess weight anywhere else in her body except on her waistline, and now after losing just 12 lbs and 9cm off her waist, she has reversed her type 2 diabetes and is not taking any medications. Her HbA1c is now within non-diabetic range without medication, and her home glucose readings remain stable. Peggy feels well and healthy. She has been able to return to eating a balanced diet with the odd treat, without having her previous need for sweets and chocolate. Most importantly, she has maintained her weight loss and feels that she has improved her quality of life!

It is now estimated that up to 150 000 Irish people are unaware of having type 2 diabetes as they are not experiencing any symptoms. You can assess the most obvious risk factor for insulin resistance at home with a simple inexpensive tool- waistline measuring tape. First, measure your height in centimeters. Then divide this in two. Next, measure your waistline at the point of your navel (belly button) in centimetres. Your waistline should be less than half of your height. So for example, if you are 165cm tall, your waistline should be under 83cm. Should you have any excess centimetres, these can predispose you to a number of chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Each excess centimeter represents an excess of 1kg (2.2lbs).

Watch Peggy’s inspiring interview on TV3 with Dr Eva