Introduction
I delayed posting this update due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I thought by now we could all use a little distraction. I hope this post about my health and weight recovery serves as encouragement as to what is possible simply by eating real, whole food and sticking with it.
Me – April 2017, 2019, and 2020
Three years ago, on March 5th, 2017, I didn’t feel well. I took my blood pressure and found I was in a hypertensive emergency. My blood sugar was 13.2 mmol/L (238 mg/dl)—dangerously high, even for someone already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. As an obese Dietitian with a BMI over 30, I was terrified of a stroke or heart attack. I knew I needed to change immediately.
The Decision to Recover
I treated myself like my own client: I printed my labs, took my measurements, and designed a meal plan as if my life depended on it. In the first year, I lost 32 pounds and 8 inches off my waist. My HbA1C dropped to 6.0%, no longer meeting the criteria for type 2 diabetes.
By year two, I had lost a total of 55 pounds and a foot off my waist. I worked closely with physician colleagues to adjust my carbohydrate intake and manage my medications. I also began focusing on circadian rhythms—changing when I ate and when I was exposed to light to align with my body’s natural 24-hour cycles. My sleep improved, and my fasting glucose finally reached numbers I hadn’t seen in years.
Current Status: Full Remission
I am now a normal body weight with an optimal waist circumference. I am in remission of type two diabetes and hypertension. I went from taking 12 different medications three years ago to leaving my doctor’s office with a clean bill of health and no metabolic prescriptions.
April 2020
I didn’t lose the weight quickly, but I gave myself the time needed to get well. The process wasn’t difficult to maintain because it was based on real, whole food. Today, I am “comfortable in my own skin” for the first time in decades. I share my story to encourage my clients: I have been where you are, and I came back.
More Info?
You can learn about me here.
To your good health!
Joy
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© 2025 BetterByDesign Nutrition Ltd.
Joy is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of BetterByDesign Nutrition Ltd. She has a postgraduate degree in Human Nutrition, is a published mental health nutrition researcher, and has been supporting clients’ needs since 2008. Joy is licensed in BC, Alberta, and Ontario, and her areas of expertise range from routine health, chronic disease management, and digestive health to therapeutic diets. Joy is passionate about helping people feel better and believes that Nutrition is BetterByDesign©.