How Molly Lowered Her A1c from 6.9% to 5.8% and Lost 50 Pounds

Article written and reviewed by Robby Barbaro, MPH
Published August 18, 2026

Meet Molly. She knew what it felt like to lose control of her health.

She had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and had previously lost well over 100 pounds, bringing her A1c as low as 5.5%. But over time, the weight started coming back.

She stopped checking her blood sugar regularly. Her energy declined. And although her doctors told her that keeping her A1c below a certain threshold meant she was controlling her diabetes, Molly didn't feel like she was in control at all.

Then her A1c climbed back to 6.9%. That number was the wake-up call she needed.

Molly had known about Mastering Diabetes for years through YouTube videos and interviews, but this time, she knew information alone wasn't enough. She needed help, support, and a system she could actually follow.

So she decided to invest in herself.

Knowing What to Do Wasn't Enough

Molly wasn't starting from zero.

She had already experienced significant weight loss and had previously improved her blood sugar. She also knew about Mastering Diabetes and had spent years consuming educational content.

But knowing what to do and consistently doing it are two very different things.

As her weight returned and her A1c increased from 5.5% to 6.9%, Molly realized that whatever she was doing wasn't working anymore.

She felt tired. She wasn't monitoring her blood sugar. And perhaps most importantly, she felt disconnected from her own health.

That realization led her to the Mastering Diabetes Coaching Program, where she found something she had been missing: personalized support and accountability.

Finding a "Why" That Was Finally About Her

One of the most important lessons Molly learned through Coaching had nothing to do with carbohydrates, calories, or blood sugar.

Her coaches asked her to identify her "why." What did she actually want for herself?

At first, Molly was skeptical. But as she thought about the question, she realized that her motivation for improving her health had often centered around other people.

This time, her reason needed to belong to her.

Her coach encouraged her to write down her why, think about it every day, and put reminders in places where she would see them. So Molly made it part of her morning routine.

Every morning, the first thing she wrote in her paper journal was her why. That simple habit helped keep her connected to the person she wanted to become, especially when life became difficult and old habits were tempting.

Looking back, Molly believes discovering a reason that was truly her own was one of the biggest factors behind her success.

Molly's Before and After Results

As Molly consistently applied what she was learning, the changes became measurable.

Header

Before

After

A1c (%)

6.9

5.8

Weight

Regaining previously lost weight

Lost 50 pounds

Energy

Fatigued

Energized

Molly lowered her A1c from 6.9% to 5.8% and lost 50 pounds after starting Mastering Diabetes. But for her, those numbers represent something even bigger.

She regained a sense of control.

Instead of avoiding her blood sugar or wondering whether her choices were moving her in the right direction, she now understands how her food affects her body and has practical strategies she can use every day.

Learning That Carbohydrates Weren't the Enemy

One of the biggest changes in Molly's relationship with food was learning that improving her blood sugar didn't mean eliminating the carbohydrate-rich foods she loved.

Fruit. Beans. Potatoes. Vegetables. Even toast.

Instead of receiving a long list of foods she could never eat again, Molly learned how timing, quantity, and food choices could influence her insulin sensitivity and fasting blood sugar.

One strategy that made a particularly noticeable difference was eating a "green light dinner," built around whole plant foods that support insulin sensitivity.

She also learned that if she wanted something like toast, breakfast or lunch worked better for her than eating it later in the day.

These weren't temporary diet rules. They were tools that helped Molly understand her own body. And that knowledge gave her freedom.

She could enjoy the foods she loved while making informed decisions about when and how to eat them.

Why Coaching Made the Difference

When Molly talks about Mastering Diabetes, one element stands out above almost everything else: Coaching.

Her coach wasn't simply there to tell her what to eat. Molly felt that care was taken to match her with someone who understood what she wanted to accomplish and could support her individual goals.

The community became equally important.

The people she met through the program understood the challenges she was facing because they were navigating many of the same things themselves. When Molly struggled, she knew she had people she could turn to who understood the experience firsthand.

Over time, those relationships began to feel like family. Combined with the recipes, educational resources, and practical strategies, that support helped Molly turn knowledge into consistent action.

For her, that accountability was invaluable.

Investing in Herself

Molly describes joining Mastering Diabetes as an investment in herself and her health. That distinction matters to her.

For years, it had been easy to prioritize other people or allow her own health to move further down the list.

This time, she made herself a priority.

That shift strengthened her ability to make choices she previously struggled to make. Rather than feeling powerless around food or discouraged by her numbers, she knows what she can eat, understands how different choices affect her, and has a system she can return to when life becomes difficult.

Her progress is no longer just about reaching a particular number on the scale or an A1c test.

It's about having the knowledge and confidence to protect the health she has worked so hard to rebuild.

What Molly Wants Others to Know

Molly understands what it's like to know you need to make a change but still feel stuck.

She also knows how discouraging it can be to experience success, watch some of that progress disappear, and wonder whether you'll ever regain control.

Her message to others struggling with type 2 diabetes is simple: You can do it.

For Molly, the combination of a clear system, personalized coaching, community support, and a reason for changing that truly belonged to her made all the difference.

Today, she is 50 pounds lighter, her A1c has dropped from 6.9% to 5.8%, and she feels stronger and more capable of making decisions that support her health.

Most importantly, she no longer feels like her health is controlling her. She feels like she is in control again.

Ready to See Results Like Molly?

If you're living with type 2 diabetes, watching your A1c rise, struggling with weight regain, or simply feel like you've lost control of your health, Molly's story shows that meaningful change is possible.

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.