Meet Kim. When she was hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), she found herself facing a frightening situation.
Living with type 1 diabetes was already overwhelming, but Kim felt that she had received very little guidance about managing her condition after leaving the hospital. She had been prescribed insulin, yet she recalls receiving no needles and little explanation about insulin timing.
Her day-to-day life became filled with uncertainty and panic.
At the same time, Kim was struggling with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain, chronic fatigue, and digestive problems. She worried that these challenges would define her retirement and prevent her from enjoying the years ahead.
After trying different approaches to improve her health, including years of low-carbohydrate eating, Kim discovered Mastering Diabetes.
She was skeptical at first. A previous weight-loss program had produced only temporary results, and she wasn't eager to invest in another program that might disappoint her.
But after researching Mastering Diabetes, attending its webinars, and learning more about its approach, she decided to join the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program.
Today, Kim reports lowering her A1c from 7.1% to 6.2%, losing nearly 70 pounds, discontinuing one blood pressure medication, and no longer taking several digestive supplements. She has also returned to the gym, found renewed enjoyment in cooking, and experienced improvements in her energy and physical comfort.
For Kim, these changes have meant something especially important: she's looking forward to the rest of her life again.
Feeling Overwhelmed by Type 1 Diabetes and Other Health Challenges
Before joining Mastering Diabetes, Kim described her daily life as chaotic.
She had been dealing with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain, and chronic fatigue. Although her A1c had historically been in the 5% range, she recalls that her blood sugar began rising during cancer treatment.
Her health challenges became especially frightening when she was hospitalized with DKA.
After leaving the hospital, Kim felt unprepared to manage her diabetes. She had received an insulin prescription and instructions based on her blood sugar readings, but she says she wasn't given enough information about timing or other practical aspects of managing insulin.
"Before working with Mastering Diabetes, my day-to-day was chaos. It was absolute chaos."
She began searching online for information that could help her better understand her condition and improve her health.
Kim wasn't looking for another temporary solution. She wanted to feel better, regain her energy, and approach retirement with greater confidence.
But previous experiences had made her cautious.
Finding a Different Approach After Years of Low-Carb Eating
For years, Kim had followed a low-carbohydrate approach inspired by Atkins and ketogenic diets.
She avoided many carbohydrate-rich foods, including most fruits and potatoes, and relied heavily on meals built around chicken breast and broccoli.
Despite her efforts, she continued struggling with her health.
She had also tried a weight-loss program that initially helped her lose weight, but the results didn't last. The weight returned, along with the digestive complaints and other difficulties she had hoped to improve.
When Kim discovered Mastering Diabetes, she was reluctant to try another program.
She researched it extensively, looking for complaints and trying to determine whether it was worth considering.
Then she attended two free Mastering Diabetes webinars.
During one session, she asked questions and received a personal response from Robby Barbaro. That interaction helped her feel more comfortable with the program and encouraged her to learn more.
Eventually, Kim decided that improving her health was worth another attempt.
"The investment was worth it because I'm worth it."
She enrolled in the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program.
Kim's Before and After Results
The changes quickly became measurable.
Header | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
A1c (%) | 7.1 | 6.2 |
LDL Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 106 | 71 |
Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 145 | 102 |
eGFR | 77 | 96 |
Medications and Supplements | 2 blood pressure medications, probiotics, digestive enzymes, IBS supplements, multi-vitamins | 1 blood pressure medication |
Weight Loss | No weight loss | Almost 70 pounds lost |
Kim's A1c decreased by 0.9 percentage points, from 7.1% to 6.2%, and she reports losing nearly 70 pounds.
She also shared that her latest blood tests were no longer showing the abnormal results she had previously noticed. Because she did not provide specific laboratory measurements, those improvements cannot be described more precisely.
Kim reported discontinuing one blood pressure medication, along with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and supplements she had been taking for IBS. She did not specify the circumstances surrounding these changes.
These results reflect Kim's individual experience and should not be interpreted as expected outcomes for everyone following the program.
Rediscovering the Foods She Had Avoided for Years
One of Kim's biggest adjustments was changing her relationship with food.
After years of low-carbohydrate eating, she was accustomed to avoiding many foods that were part of the Mastering Diabetes approach.
Moving toward low-fat, whole-food, plant-based nutrition required her to reconsider some longstanding habits.
She was particularly concerned about giving up cheese. Kim also had to become more mindful of automatically reaching for familiar foods, including mayonnaise and other animal-based products.
But the transition wasn't as difficult as she had anticipated.
The Mastering Diabetes Online Course helped her understand the program's recommendations. She appreciated being able to revisit the lessons whenever she needed reinforcement.
Kim also kept the program's printable green-light, yellow-light, and red-light food guides in her kitchen so she could refer to them while preparing meals. As she became more comfortable with the approach, her cooking habits began changing.
Instead of relying on the same limited selection of foods, Kim started experimenting with new ingredients and combinations.
One evening, she prepared a dish using Peruvian beans, mushrooms, and onions, then served it over greens with chopped pear. She loved the combination of flavors.
"I'm so much more adventurous with food than I used to be."
For Kim, discovering new ways to prepare meals brought enjoyment back to cooking.
Noticing Changes in Her Energy and Physical Comfort
Kim began noticing changes within the first couple of weeks of following the program. Her weight started decreasing, but she also noticed that everyday activities were becoming easier.
Getting out of bed in the morning no longer felt like such a struggle.
She reported improvements in her joint pain and noticed that her skin and hair felt softer.
As her energy increased, Kim began returning to activities she hadn't participated in for years. One particularly meaningful milestone was going back to the gym.
After a long period of fatigue and physical discomfort, having the energy to exercise again represented an important change in her daily life.
These improvements were especially encouraging because Kim had previously worried about how her health would affect her retirement.
Now, she was beginning to feel more comfortable and active.
How Coaching Helped Kim Feel More Confident
Kim credits her Mastering Diabetes coach with helping her feel calmer and more confident throughout the process.
When she first began managing type 1 diabetes, she had experienced considerable anxiety about making the right decisions.
That uncertainty didn't disappear immediately.
Even after joining the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program, Kim sometimes felt overwhelmed and needed reassurance.
Her coach provided a place where she could ask questions and discuss her concerns.
"My coach was there during the panic moments."
Kim appreciated her coach's knowledge, experience, and willingness to listen.
Rather than feeling alone with her questions, she had someone who could help her better understand the program and approach challenges more calmly.
For Kim, this support was an important part of her experience.
She began feeling more capable of navigating the lifestyle changes she was making and less overwhelmed by the process.
Looking Forward to the Rest of Her Life
Before joining Mastering Diabetes, Kim worried about what her future would look like.
She was dealing with multiple health challenges, had experienced disappointing results from previous attempts to improve her health, and felt overwhelmed by managing type 1 diabetes.
Her energy was limited, and everyday activities often felt difficult.
Today, Kim describes a very different outlook.
She has lowered her A1c from 7.1% to 6.2%, lost nearly 70 pounds, and reported improvements in her energy, joint pain, and other aspects of her well-being.
She has returned to the gym and discovered a renewed enthusiasm for preparing meals. But perhaps the biggest change is how she feels about herself and her future.
Kim no longer describes retirement as something she fears because of her health.
Instead, she is excited about the possibilities ahead.
"I'm looking forward to the rest of my life."
Her experience has also changed how she thinks about investing in her health.
Although she initially hesitated to join another program, she now considers the decision worthwhile because of the changes she has experienced.
Kim credits the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program with helping her feel happier, healthier, and more enthusiastic about life.
For someone who once felt overwhelmed by her health challenges, that renewed sense of possibility is one of her most meaningful results.
Ready to See Results Like Kim?
If you're living with type 1 diabetes, struggling to improve your A1c, or feeling overwhelmed by weight concerns, fatigue, and conflicting nutrition advice, Mastering Diabetes can help you better understand insulin sensitivity and develop sustainable habits that support your health.
Book a free discovery call with one of our advisors and learn how to begin your own transformation.
Lower Your A1c and Fasting Blood Sugar... Guaranteed
Your results are guaranteed. Join more than 10,000 ecstatic members today
Personalized coaching puts you in immediate control of your diabetes health, helps you gain energy, improves your quality of life, and reduces or eliminates your meds.
