How I Lowered My A1C From 18 to 6.6 After 20 Years | Type 2 Diabetes Success Story

Welcome to The Diabetes Podcast, where real stories meet real science to help you take charge of your health. In this episode, Richie and Amber sit down with Cheryl Coleman, a mother, grandmother, and lifelong caregiver who spent nearly 20 years living with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes. Cheryl shares her powerful journey from feeling "fine" with an A1C of 18, to battling severe complications like neuropathy, life-threatening infections, vision changes, and a terrifying mini-stroke.

Throughout the conversation, Amber provides expert clinical insights into why Type 2 diabetes is a complex network issue. It is not just one broken thing; it is a whole lot of things affecting the liver, muscles, pancreas, fat tissue, gut, and brain. Because elevated blood sugar is simply the output—the fever of the disease—it requires comprehensive management. We explore the pitfalls of outdated sliding scale insulin regimens and how Cheryl’s transition to an insulin pump, combined with a profound mindset shift, helped her lower her A1C to 6.6 and restore her body's ability to heal.

If you have ever put yourself last or felt overwhelmed by diabetes burnout, Cheryl’s story proves that it is never too late to take control. Follow the podcast to hear more inspiring stories and clinical deep-dives that empower you to live your healthiest life.

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Episode Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to The Diabetes Podcast: Cheryl's Success Story
01:50 - Life Before Diagnosis: Unexplained Weight Loss and Ignoring the Signs
04:00 - The Shocking Diagnosis: Discovering an A1C of 18
07:30 - The Metformin Struggle and High Blood Sugar Denial
14:00 - The Caregiver Mindset: Why We Put Ourselves Last
19:00 - Insulin Resistance and the Flaws of Sliding Scale Insulin
24:00 - Severe Neuropathy: The Needle Incident and Hospitalization
35:00 - The Mini-Stroke Alert: A Terrifying Wake-Up Call
42:00 - Getting an Insulin Pump and Taking Back Control
44:30 - Healing the Body: Lowering A1C to 6.6 and Reversing Complications
51:00 - The Ultimate Mindset Shift: Why Self-Care Isn't Selfish
01:00:00 - Key Takeaways and How to Get Help for Type 2 Diabetes

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