Sheila managed to lose 5 stone (Image: Sheila Hogan)
Today marks World Diabetes Day (November 14), a global initiative to raise awareness about diabetes. Charities are working to prioritise wellbeing in diabetes care, striving for a better life for those affected.
On social media, many are searching for ways to reverse type-2 diabetes. According to TikTok user @type2diabetesrevolution, the key “secrets” to reversal include avoiding refined carbohydrates, understanding that not all carbs are created equal, and recognising consuming fat doesn’t raise blood glucose levels.
The message is one of empowerment, highlighting that type-2 diabetes is a “lifestyle disease” which can be reversed through adopting healthy habits.
Sheila Hogan, a 60-year-old from Edinburgh, is proof of this. Formerly a size 22 and self-described yo-yo dieter, Sheila achieved a remarkable five-stone weight loss.
Her transformation began when she found herself struggling to climb stairs and experiencing digestive issues. A doctor’s diagnosis of arthritis, pre-diabetes, and high cholesterol served as a wake-up call, prompting Sheila to make a change.
Read more… Lorraine’s Dr Hilary Jones sparks Ofcom fury with controversial weight loss top
Sheila knew she had to make a change for good (Image: Sheila Hogan )
Fearing she might not live to see her grandchildren grow up, Sheila took control of her health and turned her life around. Having previously relied on diets for slimming down, she was all too familiar with the cycle of weight fluctuation.
Desiring a more sustainable solution, she found inspiration in Oprah Winfrey’s use of weight loss injections and considered it a viable option.
Sheila discovered Second Nature, an NHS-endorsed healthy lifestyle programme that incorporates medication-assisted plans. Utilising behavioural science, Second Nature aims to transform eating habits and has aided over 250,000 UK residents in achieving enduring weight loss over the past decade.
She confessed: “I had crooked thinking. I was either on a diet, or I’m not, so I was pigging out. If I wasn’t on a diet, I wouldn’t contemplate a piece of fruit or a salad. I would just eat rubbish and big portions. And I know everything about nutrition.” Her wake-up call came when her health began to suffer due to her weight.
Sheila said she feels loads better now (Image: Sheila Hogan)
Determined to make a lasting change, Sheila said: “This time, I knew I had to do things differently. With real food, not shakes or powders. I wouldn’t just put any drug into my body without researching. And I felt confident with the NHS support for Second Nature and in terms of the other research I’d done, that this was right for me.”
Sheila has not only joined a gym but also marvelled at the transformation in her physique, exclaiming: “I’m in awe of what a difference it has made to my life. I am now five-and-a-half-stone lighter, a size 12, and I feel stronger, fitter and younger.”
She began using Wegovy in August 2023, administering a low dose every four weeks, and happily reports: “I didn’t have any side effects.” She noticed an immediate impact, saying: “I noticed a positive difference within just three days. I no longer had any appetite; I just didn’t feel hungry.”
Describing her past eating habits, Sheila said: “Before this, there was a constant search for something. That constant feeling of always wanting something. And going to the fridge for something. ‘What can I have to eat now?’ And eating large quantities too. But I didn’t feel that anymore.”
Sheila is glad she’ll feel fitter to look after her grandkids (Image: Sheila Hogan)
Previously prone to overeating, Sheila confessed she would have “forced a pudding in” even when full. Now, she feels content much sooner and remarked: “I was contemplating bariatric surgery, but the money I’ve spent on the weight loss medication is cheaper, and it’s safer than surgery – plus I feel fantastic.”
Sheila enthused about the broader implications of her weight loss, stating: “This has completely changed my life. I feel fitter than ever and have more energy. What’s more, I’m going to be around for many more years to see my grandkids grow up, and that, to me, makes it all completely worthwhile.”
Moreover, her health has significantly improved, with her doctor confirming she’s “no longer prediabetic” and her “cholesterol levels are back to normal”.
For guidance on diabetes, your first port of call should be your GP.