By Scott Somers

My name is Scott Somers, and I am not a doctor or other healthcare professional, I am a type 2 diabetic who has learned a great deal about health and fitness. This is the story of my health journey.

I am a 43 year old man who has struggled with my health for most of my life. I come from a family of obese people. My mom, and her six siblings, are all overweight, ranging from slightly overweight to morbidly obese.

My breakfast as a child consisted of a bowl of cereal with about a cup of sugar poured on top. This was usually followed up by a soda and then there were the extra helpings at lunch and dinner time.

By the time I was 10 years old, I could eat an entire box of macaroni and cheese by myself. I drank a gallon or so of Kool Aid (with extra sugar) every day. Add to this the fact that I rarely did anything but sit on my backside and watch TV, and well, there you have it, I was fat.

As I got older and my metabolism slowed down (which is a normal part of everybody’s journey), I got fatter and fatter. By the time I got to my mid-30’s I was around 350 pounds.

Yes, I was fat shamed. Yes, that hurt. In fact, I was told by people close to me that I was too fat to be doing the work I was doing. Even with the pain of being obese, there there was little incentive to make the necessary changes to control my life.

I was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic in 2017, but thankfully I was able to stave off the worst of the symptoms when I made lifestyle changes. I cut my calories drastically, I exercised to the point of exhaustion, and I stayed away from carbs.

I lost some weight, in fact, I lost around 40 pounds. That lasted all of about three months then life got in the way again. Eventually, the weight came back, and then some.

On August 6, 2021 my A1c, which is a measure for diabetes, was 14.7- literally off the charts high, and my fasting blood sugar was 350, which was getting to the dangerously high levels. I weighed 363 lbs and could barely walk up a single flight of stairs without getting winded.

I was terrified because my medical provider told me that if I did not change, my lifestyle would put me in the grave by Christmas of 2021.

I started one popular diabetes medication and used it for one week but absolutely hated it because of the severity of the side effects. I worked with my provider and we decided that I would focus on lifestyle changes in order to manage my type 2 diabetes.

In five months I managed to drop my A1c to 5.5 and my fasting blood sugar to 125 or less on a daily basis, usually getting between 90 and 105. These numbers are no longer in the diabetic range, but are instead in the pre-diabetic range. I have not reversed my type 2 diabetes, but I have absolutely controlled it.

One year later I’m down 95 pounds and I can pretty much eat what I want, as long as it’s in moderation, while keeping my A1c at 5.5 or less. I am physically stronger than I’ve ever been. I am training for a 5K. My other labs, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, are well within the “normal” range with room to spare, and they continue to improve as my overall health improves.

For me, my type 2 diabetes is, in terms of health, the best thing that’s ever happened to me since it has forced me to make lifestyle changes for my long-term health.

In April of 2022 I became a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified personal trainer, as well as receiving certifications in behavioral change coaching and nutrition coaching, both of which are also through NASM. Training for these certifications has allowed me to better understand my relationship with fitness and food, allowing me to not only make the changes, but to maintain the changes.

For me personally, I’ve learned that diabetes need not be an anchor that holds me down. Rather, it can be a launch pad to drive me to better health and fitness. I’ve learned that with commitment and consistency, I can control this beast through diet and exercise.

My journey is not going to be the same as other people’s journey, but we are all on a journey and many of us need to be able to make changes in our lives.

We all have the capacity to make changes, and often those changes may seem out of reach. With that in mind, here are three tips to make the changes you need in order to live your most vigorous life.

1. Find a support system. Change takes support. You may not have that support within your household, and if that is the case, look outside for people to come alongside you and help you work through the process.

2. Set S.M.A.R.T. goals. A SMART Goal is one that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Instead of saying “My goal is to lose weight.”, say something like “My goal is to lose 10 pounds by January 1st, 2023.” This can be adapted to any goal you have in life.

3. Play the long game. Realize that “Change don’t come easy,” and that long term changes must be incremental and may be realized over the long haul. My 95 pound weight loss has taken a year. It won’t happen overnight.

With all of this, remember that many goals, including health and fitness goals, are part of an overall plan with your medical team. Work with professionals who care for you and make sure that you’re all on the same page.