How Kay Lowered Her A1c from 7.9% to 5.7% with Type 2 Diabetes

Article written and reviewed by Robby Barbaro, MPH
Published October 20, 2026

Meet Kay. When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she didn't immediately realize how seriously she needed to take it.

She had gone in for an unrelated medical procedure when her healthcare team discovered that her blood sugar was elevated. After monitoring her numbers and seeing that they weren't improving, her doctor prescribed medication.

But Kay continued eating many of the foods she enjoyed. She tried reducing sugar, although that wasn't easy for someone who loved chocolate and regularly drank soda. Even though she had a glucose meter, she wasn't checking her blood sugar consistently.

Then she began seeing readings that frightened her. One day, her glucose reading was 153 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L). Two days later, it had climbed to 157 mg/dL (8.7 mmol/L).

Around that time, a close friend of her late husband lost a leg because of diabetes-related complications. Seeing what he was going through made Kay think seriously about her own future.

She didn't want to experience the same thing.

That concern motivated her to search for a different approach to managing her diabetes, eventually leading her to Mastering Diabetes.

Today, Kay has lowered her A1c from 7.9% to 5.7%, experienced a remarkable improvement in her energy, and received encouraging news from her doctor about potentially reducing her diabetes medication.

For Kay, the transformation has been about more than better blood sugar numbers. It's about feeling healthier, more confident, and in control of her daily choices.

A Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis She Didn't Initially Take Seriously

Kay discovered she had type 2 diabetes approximately two and a half years before sharing her story.

She hadn't visited the doctor because of symptoms related to diabetes. Instead, her elevated blood sugar was discovered during preparations for another medical procedure.

Her healthcare team initially monitored her glucose, hoping it would improve. When it didn't, her doctor prescribed Metformin.

Over time, Kay's blood sugar continued to concern her, and her doctor added another medication.

Although she was taking her prescribed medications consistently, Kay admits that she wasn't paying enough attention to her eating habits or checking her glucose as often as she should have.

She enjoyed chocolate, bread, and carbonated drinks such as Coke and Sprite.

She made some changes, including eliminating soda, but her numbers remained higher than she wanted.

At one point, she recorded readings of 153 and 157 mg/dL (8.5 and 8.7 mmol/L) just two days apart. The experience made her increasingly anxious about what might happen if her diabetes continued progressing.

Her concerns became more urgent when someone close to her family experienced a serious diabetes-related complication. Kay decided she needed to take action.

Discovering Mastering Diabetes from Barbados

Kay was scrolling through Instagram when she encountered Mastering Diabetes.

She was curious but uncertain whether the program could help her. She also had a practical concern.

Living in Barbados, Kay wondered whether she would need to be in the United States to participate.

When she contacted Mastering Diabetes, she learned that the program welcomed participants from around the world. That reassurance helped her feel comfortable moving forward.

Before joining, Kay had received general dietary advice from her doctor, including recommendations to reduce bread consumption and exercise more.

But she was already going to the gym five times a week. She wanted more specific guidance about what to eat and how to improve her blood sugar.

Mastering Diabetes offered the nutrition education and Coaching support she had been looking for. Kay decided to give it a try.

Kay's Before and After Results

The changes quickly became measurable.

Header

Before

After

A1c (%)

7.9

5.7

Energy

Frequently tired, even after sleeping

Energized. Wakes up feeling refreshed.

Results reported by Kay at the time of her interview. Since her interview, Kay has seen further improvements. Her latest A1c is 5.5%! Congratulations, Kay!

Kay's A1c decreased by 2.2 percentage points, from 7.9% to 5.7%.

She also reports that most of her recent glucose readings have been in the 90 mg/dL (5 mmol/L) range, with occasional readings in the 108 mg/dL (6 mmol/L range).

At her latest doctor's appointment, Kay's physician was pleased with her progress and discussed reducing her medication.

She was still taking two diabetes medications at the time of her interview, so the reduction had not yet been confirmed.

For Kay, the improvement in her A1c was especially encouraging because she had previously struggled to bring her numbers down despite eliminating sugary drinks and exercising regularly.

Learning That Food Choices Mattered More Than She Realized

One of the most valuable lessons Kay learned through Mastering Diabetes was how to approach her food choices differently.

Before joining, she had focused primarily on cutting out sugar and trying to eat less of certain foods. But she didn't have a clear understanding of how to structure her meals.

Mastering Diabetes introduced her to the green-light, yellow-light, and red-light food categories.

The system helped her identify foods she could prioritize regularly, foods to limit, and foods the program recommended avoiding.

For Kay, having those categories made healthy eating much easier to understand.

She also learned more about combining foods and building meals around the program's low-fat, whole-food, plant-based principles.

Rather than focusing exclusively on how much she ate, Kay began paying closer attention to what she was eating. That distinction changed her approach.

She appreciated having clear recommendations she could follow without constantly guessing whether she was making the right choice.

And once she committed to the program, she found the transition surprisingly manageable.

Feeling a Difference in Just One Week

Kay describes herself as someone who follows through when she commits to a goal.

Once she decided to join the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program, she was determined to apply what she learned. She began following the nutrition recommendations and adjusting her meals.

Within the first week, she noticed something unexpected. Her energy improved.

Before joining, Kay could walk considerable distances, but climbing stairs often left her feeling tired.

She also experienced fatigue in the mornings, even after sleeping through the night. As she began changing her eating habits, those everyday experiences started feeling different.

Walking upstairs became easier, and she noticed that she wasn't getting tired as quickly. But the biggest surprise came when she woke up in the morning.

Instead of feeling exhausted despite a full night's sleep, Kay began waking up feeling refreshed.

For someone who had grown accustomed to persistent tiredness, that change was remarkable.

From Constant Fatigue to Feeling Like the Energizer Bunny

As Kay continued following the program, her increased energy became one of her favorite results. She had previously been able to sleep all night and still wake up feeling tired.

Now, she sometimes had to remind herself to go to bed because she still felt energetic. She compared herself to the Energizer Bunny. The difference wasn't limited to how she felt in the morning.

Kay found that she could do more throughout the day without experiencing the same fatigue. Activities that had previously felt tiring became more manageable.

Although she had already maintained a regular gym routine before joining the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program, she now felt better during everyday activities outside the gym. These changes reinforced her motivation to continue following the program.

Her A1c was improving, but she could also feel a difference in her body. For Kay, that combination made her progress especially meaningful.

How Coaching Helped Kay Stay Consistent

Kay credits her coach with providing encouragement and support throughout her journey.

From the beginning, she appreciated knowing that someone was available to check in, answer questions, and help her stay focused.

Her coach regularly contacted her to see how things were going. When Kay worried about certain details, her coach helped her keep things in perspective rather than becoming discouraged. That reassurance made a difference.

Kay was motivated to improve her health, but she also valued having someone who could guide her through the process.

The program provided recipes, nutrition education, and practical resources that she could continue using independently.

She felt that she was learning more about her body and gaining the knowledge needed to make lasting changes.

Instead of relying solely on general dietary recommendations, Kay now had a clearer understanding of the eating habits she wanted to maintain.

For someone who had previously struggled to make meaningful progress, that knowledge gave her confidence.

Inspiring Healthier Choices Beyond Herself

As Kay's habits changed, people around her began noticing. Her coworkers became familiar with her new approach to eating.

Sometimes they would offer her foods she previously enjoyed, only to catch themselves and acknowledge that she probably wouldn't want them anymore.

Kay would agree.

She had become comfortable making choices that aligned with her health goals. Her commitment also began influencing others.

One coworker, who still ate fish and other animal products, started incorporating more salads into her meals.

Kay told her about Mastering Diabetes, and her coworker expressed interest in learning more. For Kay, sharing her experience was another rewarding part of the journey.

She wasn't simply following a new diet. She was building habits that other people could see and potentially learn from.

Taking Control of Her Health and Looking Ahead

When Kay thinks about her journey, she remembers the anxiety she felt when her blood sugar readings continued rising.

She had watched someone close to her family experience a devastating diabetes-related complication, and she didn't want her own health to follow a similar path.

At the time, she was taking medication, exercising regularly, and trying to reduce sugar, but she still wasn't seeing the improvement she wanted.

Discovering Mastering Diabetes gave her a more structured approach.

She learned how to choose foods that aligned with her goals, received ongoing coaching support, and began noticing changes in how she felt.

Today, her A1c has decreased from 7.9% to 5.7%.

Her doctor is pleased with her progress and has discussed reducing her medication.

And perhaps most noticeably, Kay no longer experiences the same persistent fatigue that once affected her mornings and everyday activities.

She feels energized, motivated, and confident in her ability to continue.

Kay also believes that the knowledge she gained through the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program will remain valuable long after the program ends.

She now has recipes, educational resources, and a better understanding of the habits she wants to maintain.

For her, the investment was worthwhile because it helped her take a more active role in managing her health.

Her advice to others considering Mastering Diabetes is simple: give it a try. She is grateful that she did.

Ready to See Results Like Kay?

If you're living with type 2 diabetes, struggling to lower your A1c despite taking medication and exercising regularly, or feeling frustrated by persistent fatigue and confusing nutrition advice, Mastering Diabetes can help you build sustainable habits that support better blood sugar management.

Book a free discovery call with one of our advisors and learn how to begin your own transformation.

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About the author 

Robby Barbaro, MPH

Robby Barbaro, MPH is a New York Times bestselling co-author of Mastering Diabetes: The Revolutionary Method to Reverse Insulin Resistance Permanently in Type 1, Type 1.5, Type 2, Prediabetes, and Gestational Diabetes.

Robby was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 12 and has been living this lifestyle since 2006. In that time, while eating pounds of fruit every day, his HbA1c has been stable with a current A1c of 5.3%, TIR of 92%, and average total daily insulin use of 30 units.

Robby graduated from the University of Florida and is the cofounder of Mastering Diabetes and Amla Green. He worked at Forks Over Knives for six years before turning his attention in 2016 to coaching people with diabetes full time.

He is the co-host of the annual Mastering Diabetes Online Summit, a featured speaker at VegFest LA, and has been featured on The Doctors, Forks Over Knives, Vice, Thrive Magazine, Diet Fiction, and the wildly popular podcasts the Rich Roll Podcast, Plant Proof, MindBodyGreen, and Nutrition Rounds.

Robby enjoys exercising every day, spending time with friends, and sharing his lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.