Meet Kevin. For nearly 30 years, he had been trying to get his type 2 diabetes under control.
He followed the dietary advice he had received over the years, focusing on high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals. He tried repeatedly to improve his blood sugar, but his results rarely reached the levels he hoped for.
By early 2026, the 75-year-old from Wichita, Kansas, was also struggling with severe neuropathy pain in his feet. Some nights, the pain was so intense that he remained awake until sunrise. After decades of frustration, Kevin was running out of hope.
Then his wife, Brenda, discovered Mastering Diabetes and encouraged him to explore a different approach to nutrition.
Kevin was skeptical. The recommendations were very different from the advice he had followed for years. But he was also desperate to find something that could help.
He decided to give the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program a chance.
Within approximately 100 to 120 days, Kevin's A1c decreased from 7.6% to 6.3%. He also lost about 20 pounds, reduced his reported daily insulin dose from 24 to 15 units, and began experiencing less neuropathy pain and better sleep.
For someone who had spent nearly three decades struggling to manage diabetes, the results were remarkable.
More importantly, Kevin no longer felt trapped in the same cycle of frustration.
Nearly Three Decades of Struggling with Type 2 Diabetes
Kevin was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around 1996. Over the following decades, he worked to manage his condition using the recommendations he had received from healthcare professionals. For him, that generally meant eating a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.
He followed that approach repeatedly, hoping it would finally help him achieve better blood sugar control. But despite his efforts, he continued struggling.
His A1c rarely fell below 7%, and he became increasingly discouraged by his inability to maintain the results he wanted.
Kevin didn't believe his difficulties came from a lack of effort. He had spent years trying to follow the advice he was given.
Yet the same problems continued.
By early 2026, he was dealing with another challenge that made his situation even more difficult: severe pain in his feet.
When Neuropathy Pain Began Taking Over His Nights
Kevin had been living with neuropathy pain in his feet, but the discomfort became especially intense in January and February 2026.
He recalls a period when he ate substantial amounts of dairy products, including yogurt, cheese, cream cheese, and milk. During the following days, his foot pain increased dramatically.
Kevin described the intensity as exceeding what he had previously considered the worst pain he could imagine.
He began spending entire nights awake.
Instead of sleeping, he would sit up for hours, sometimes watching the sun rise before finally getting any rest. The disruption affected his daily routine and left him feeling that his life had been turned upside down.
On some of those sleepless nights, he would prepare something to eat, such as a peanut butter sandwich. He later noticed another period of increased pain while eating peanut butter regularly and decided to stop.
Kevin associated these foods with changes in his symptoms, although his experience doesn't establish that they caused the worsening neuropathy.
What was clear was how severely the pain was affecting his quality of life.
He was exhausted, frustrated, and increasingly concerned about his health. After years of struggling with diabetes, he knew he needed a different approach.
Discovering Mastering Diabetes When He Needed a Change
Around that time, Brenda came across Mastering Diabetes. She told Kevin about the organization and encouraged him to learn more. At first, he wasn't convinced.
The Mastering Diabetes approach emphasized low-fat, whole-food, plant-based nutrition, which contrasted sharply with the high-protein, low-carbohydrate recommendations he had followed for decades.
But Kevin couldn't ignore the fact that his previous approach hadn't produced the results he wanted.
In late March or early April 2026, he received another laboratory report. His A1c was 7.6%.
The result wasn't surprising. Kevin had rarely managed to bring his A1c below 7%, but seeing another elevated number reinforced his frustration.
He decided it was time to try something different.
Brenda helped arrange an introductory conversation with Mastering Diabetes, and they spoke with Robby Barbaro. After learning more about the program, Kevin decided to enroll in June 2026.
He was ready to find out whether a new approach could help him make progress after nearly 30 years of difficulty.
Kevin's Before and After Results
After three decades living with type 2 diabetes, Kevin began to see measurable changes.
Header | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
A1c (%) | 7.6 | 6.3 |
Weight (lbs) | 228 | 207 |
Daily Insulin Dose | 24 units once daily | 15 units once daily |
Neuropathy Pain | Frequently awake most or all night | Reported substantially improved sleep |
Sleep | Decades of frustration and inconsistent results | Renewed confidence in his ability to make progress |
Kevin's A1c decreased by 1.3 percentage points, from 7.6% to 6.3%, in approximately 100 to 120 days. He also reported losing about 20 pounds, bringing his weight from approximately 228 to 207 pounds.
During that same period, his reported daily insulin dose decreased from 24 to 15 units, a reduction of 9 units per day.
For Kevin, the A1c improvement was particularly meaningful. He recalled that in nearly 30 years of living with diabetes, there had been only one other occasion when his A1c had fallen below 6.3%.
Seeing that number again was an extraordinary moment for him and Brenda.
Starting Slowly Instead of Changing Everything Overnight
One of the things Kevin appreciated most about the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program was that he wasn't expected to transform his entire routine immediately.
His coach began by explaining how the program would work over the following 12 weeks. Rather than requiring him to change every meal at once, she introduced a gradual approach.
Kevin could begin by incorporating one Mastering Diabetes meal into his daily routine and build from there. That made the transition feel more manageable.
After decades of following a very different style of eating, he appreciated having time to adjust. He didn't feel overwhelmed by a long list of immediate requirements. Instead, he had a starting point and a clear direction.
As the weeks progressed, Kevin continued incorporating the Mastering Diabetes food plan into his routine.
He was learning to approach nutrition differently while building habits he could practice consistently.
For him, that gradual introduction was an important part of the experience.
How Weekly Goals and Accountability Helped Kevin Stay on Track
Kevin developed a positive relationship with his coach throughout his Coaching experience. He appreciated her sense of humor and found their conversations enjoyable. But their sessions were also practical and focused.
Each week, his coach would ask him to identify three objectives he wanted to accomplish over the following seven days. After their conversation, she would send an email summarizing the goals he had chosen.
That gave Kevin a clear reminder of what he had committed to doing. During their next conversation, they would review his progress.
Kevin was candid about the results.
Sometimes he completed two goals successfully but fell short on the third. Rather than hiding those difficulties, he discussed them openly.
The process helped him remain accountable while recognizing that progress didn't require perfection.
He appreciated having someone follow up on his commitments and help him stay focused.
After years of trying to manage diabetes largely through his own efforts, that structure made a difference. Kevin felt supported without feeling pressured to make every change at once.
An A1c Result That Surprised Kevin and His Doctor
After approximately 100 to 120 days of following the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program, Kevin received his follow-up laboratory results.
His A1c had decreased from 7.6% to 6.3%. He was thrilled. Brenda was equally excited. Kevin recalled that only once in nearly three decades had his A1c been lower than 6.3%.
Now, after just a few months of following a different nutrition approach, he had achieved a result he hadn't expected.
Two physicians' laboratory reports showed the same A1c value, reinforcing his confidence in the result.
When Kevin visited his endocrinologist in late August, he brought the report with him. He wanted his doctor to see the improvement.
His endocrinologist was impressed and asked how Kevin had achieved such a substantial change in approximately 100 days.
For Kevin, the appointment was an opportunity to share something positive after years of disappointing numbers. His blood sugar had improved, and he finally had evidence that his efforts were producing results.
Losing 20 Pounds and Reducing His Insulin Dose
Kevin's lower A1c wasn't the only measurable change he experienced. During the same period, his weight decreased from approximately 228 pounds to 207 pounds.
He had spent considerable time around his previous weight and was surprised by how much he had lost.
At 75 years old, he recalled that the last time he weighed approximately 207 pounds was around his college years, more than five decades earlier.
Reaching that weight again was exciting. Kevin also reported reducing his daily insulin dose.
Before joining Mastering Diabetes, he had been taking 24 units once a day. By the time he shared his story, he was taking 15 units once a day. These changes reinforced his belief that the lifestyle adjustments he had made were worthwhile.
For someone who had struggled with diabetes for nearly 30 years, seeing improvements in several areas at once was deeply encouraging.
Finally Getting More Sleep and Experiencing Less Pain
One of Kevin's most meaningful improvements involved his nighttime routine.
Earlier in the year, neuropathy pain in his feet had been so severe that he frequently stayed awake until morning. He had become accustomed to watching the sun rise after another difficult night.
Kevin reported that his foot pain had decreased significantly and that he was getting much more sleep.
He no longer described himself as spending night after night awake in severe discomfort. For Kevin, being able to sleep more comfortably was an important part of feeling better.
It was a reminder that the progress he was making extended beyond his laboratory results.
Finding Hope After Nearly 30 Years of Frustration
Kevin's experience with Mastering Diabetes came after decades of trying to manage his condition.
He had followed the conventional dietary advice he received, monitored his results, and repeatedly attempted to improve his blood sugar. But he rarely achieved the numbers he wanted.
By early 2026, his frustration had become desperation. His A1c was 7.6%, his neuropathy pain was disrupting his sleep, and he was exhausted by the feeling that nothing seemed to work.
Joining the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program gave him a different approach.
With his coach's guidance, he began incorporating new meals gradually, setting weekly goals, and developing greater consistency.
Within approximately 100 to 120 days, his A1c had fallen to 6.3%. He had lost about 20 pounds, reported using less daily insulin, and was experiencing less foot pain and better sleep.
But perhaps the biggest change was how he felt about his future. Kevin no longer described himself as desperate.
He was excited about his progress and grateful that Brenda had encouraged him to explore the program.
When asked whether he would make the same decision again, his answer was an enthusiastic yes.
At 75 years old, after nearly three decades of living with type 2 diabetes, Kevin had found renewed confidence in his ability to improve his health.
His story is a reminder that a long history of frustration doesn't necessarily mean meaningful progress is out of reach. For Kevin, trying something different helped him begin a new chapter.
Ready to See Results Like Tim?
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