Holy Sh*t, I Have Type 2 Diabetes?!? WTF?!?
When my doctor told me I had Type 2 diabetes, my first thought was: How the hell did this happen?
I’ve always thought of myself as a pretty damn healthy person. Sure, life had been hectic since having kids, but still—I worked out, I ate pretty well (most of the time), so what went wrong? What did I do wrong?
Turns out, it wasn’t just me. My body had changed. And suddenly, so much of what I had been struggling with—the exhaustion, the sluggishness, the lack of motivation, the brain fog, the loss of interest in things I used to love—made sense.
There was something going on inside me.
What is Type 2 Diabetes & Why Do Some of Us Get It After Pregnancy?
Type 2 diabetes isn't just about eating too much sugar. It's a metabolic disorder that happens when your body either becomes resistant to insulin (the hormone that helps your cells absorb glucose) or doesn't produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check.
Some key reasons why Type 2 diabetes can develop later in life or after pregnancy:
Hormonal changes from pregnancy can increase insulin resistance
Gestational diabetes history can raise your risk of developing Type 2 later
Increased stress, poor sleep, & weight changes postpartum affect blood sugar regulation
Genetics & family history play a role (you could be more prone without knowing)
For me, pregnancy changed my body in ways I wasn’t even aware of. I didn’t have gestational diabetes during pregnancy, so I never saw this coming. But here I was, sitting in my doctor's office, being told my A1C was 6.5—officially diabetic.
What’s the Deal with A1C Levels? (And Why Being Below 7 Was Good News)
A1C is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. The higher the number, the more glucose is staying in your bloodstream instead of being used for energy.
A1C Ranges & What They Mean:
✅ Below 5.7% – Normal
⚠️ 5.7% - 6.4% – Prediabetic
🚨 6.5%+ – Type 2 Diabetes
At 6.5%, I was just over the line—but still, diabetic. The good news? I wasn’t above 7, which is when things can start getting scary.
At 7%+, your risk for complications like nerve damage, kidney disease, and circulation issues increases significantly.
Prolonged high A1C levels can lead to diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), vision loss, and even limb amputation in severe cases. (Yeah, no thanks!)
This was the wake-up call I needed.
Metformin: The Drug That Almost Broke Me (But Ended Up Helping Me)
To help lower my blood sugar & improve insulin sensitivity, my doctor prescribed Metformin.
What is Metformin?
Metformin is one of the most common first-line medications for Type 2 diabetes. It works by:
Lowering glucose production in the liver
Improving insulin sensitivity so your body uses sugar more efficiently
Helping with weight loss (although this isn’t the case for everyone)
Sounds great, right? Well, let me tell you—the first two weeks were brutal.
The Side Effects: Holy Hell, What is This Stuff?!
I already have a sensitive stomach, and Metformin wrecked me at first.
✔️ Dizziness
✔️ Nausea
✔️ Stomach cramps
✔️ Feeling like I was dying (slight exaggeration, but still!)
At one point, I thought, Is this even worth it?! But then, after my body adjusted—I started noticing changes.
✔️ My energy levels improved
✔️ I wasn’t having afternoon crashes & sugar cravings
✔️ I was losing weight (again, not always the case for everyone)
Glucose Monitors & My CGM Experiment
For the first three months, I was managing my blood sugar without a glucose monitor or CGM (continuous glucose monitor).
But, let’s be real—I’m analytical. I wanted to see patterns, track trends, and actually understand what my body was doing.
Stelo by Dexcom (OTC CGM for Type 2 Diabetes)
I decided to try Stelo by Dexcom (made for non-insulin-dependent diabetics).
💡 Key Facts About Stelo:
✔️ Price: Around $200/month
✔️ Reads blood sugar every 15 minutes
✔️ Made specifically for Type 2 diabetics who don’t use insulin
At first, I thought, Why only every 15 minutes? But after using it, I realized this was totally fine—since Type 2 diabetics don’t need real-time insulin adjustments like Type 1 diabetics do.
But then, I heard about Lingo by Abbott…
Lingo by Abbott: Worth the Hype?
I decided to try Lingo because it claimed to offer minute-by-minute readings instead of every 15 minutes. Sounds better, right?
Well… not exactly.
Lingo isn’t designed for diabetics (it’s marketed as a metabolic tracking tool)
It constantly gave me alerts & warnings (since I was technically outside its “metabolic goals”)
The app crashed frequently, and one of my sensors failed completely
After two months of frustration, I switched back to Stelo.
What Helped Me Feel Better?
Managing Type 2 diabetes isn’t just about medication—it’s about balancing blood sugar levels naturally through food, movement, and stress management.
How Eating Low Glycemic Foods Helps
I started following the 21-Day Portion Fix Control by Autumn Calabrese on BODi, which helped me prevent blood sugar crashes and balance my meals.
Why Low Glycemic Foods Matter for Type 2 Diabetes
They cause a slower, more gradual rise in blood sugar levels
They help prevent energy crashes & cravings
They support weight loss and metabolism
Some of my go-to low glycemic foods:
✅ Lean proteins (chicken, tofu, fish)
✅ Healthy fats (avocado, nuts, olive oil)
✅ Complex carbs (quinoa, sweet potatoes, black beans)
✅ Non-starchy veggies (spinach, broccoli, zucchini)
While I’ve been doing well overall, I’ll be completely transparent:
After getting sick in January, I fell off the healthy eating wagon.
Stress from work has had me eating way too many high glycemic foods.
I need to figure out how to manage stress differently.
Every day is an opportunity to reset. We’re all human. I’m human.
How Exercise Helps Regulate Blood Sugar
One of the best things I’ve done is stay consistent with movement.
BODi workouts (HIIT, Cardio, Strength Training, Yoga, Pilates)
Walking treadmill after carb-heavy meals
Elliptical workouts
Swimming (before I got sick, need to get back to it!)
Why Exercise Helps with Type 2 Diabetes:
It increases insulin sensitivity (so your body processes sugar better)
It lowers blood sugar levels naturally
It reduces stress (which can trigger blood sugar spikes)
Even just 10-15 minutes of movement after eating can make a difference in blood sugar regulation!
Where I’m at Now & What’s Next
My A1C dropped from 6.5 → 6.1 (pre-diabetic range!)
I’m still on Metformin, and it’s actually working well
I’m tracking my levels with Stelo (Dexcom CGM)
I’m working on managing stress (because it plays a HUGE role in blood sugar control!)
One thing I learned? Prednisone is the devil for blood sugar. 😅
Up Next: My Testosterone Journey
Halfway through my diabetes journey, I found out I had almost NO testosterone. What does that mean? Stay tuned—because my next blog is all about it.