Life with type 1 diabetes: One woman’s journey back to herself

Exercise was never simple. Every workout came with a cost: eating before, eating during, eating after. For me, exercise became an excuse to reach for chocolate or sweets just to keep my sugars stable — and of course, the calories in those treats far outweighed whatever I’d burned. Weight loss is challenging for anyone with diabetes, but for me it felt almost impossible. Every hypo meant undoing my hard work. Every diet left me hungry, deprived, and fighting against the very foods I needed to manage my insulin. Pasta, rice, noodles — the things that kept my sugars steady — were suddenly “off limits.” And by the time I treated a hypo, any allowance I had was gone. Add in my love of cheese, and the sense of deprivation only grew. Even exercise left me with days of highs and lows.

Then came Covid. Everything reached breaking point. My BMI climbed to 41. In the middle of the pandemic, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgery followed, and with it the requirement for reconstructive surgery in 2025 — but only if I could reach and maintain a BMI of 32 for at least three months. With the diet I was following, it felt impossible. I was trapped between my diabetes, my weight, and the medical requirements I desperately needed to meet.

So in the spring of 2024, I rejoined Slimming World. Nearly two years on, it remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I reached my BMI target of 32, held it through an 18‑month waiting list, and even brought it down further to 30 — and maintained it. In 2024, I moved onto an insulin pump, which transformed my carb‑to‑insulin ratio and gave me a level of flexibility I’d never had before. I no longer needed to load up on sugar before exercising; I could simply adjust my insulin. It’s not the right approach for everyone, but for me it was life‑changing. And Slimming World gave me something I’d missed for years: my cheese allowance and my carbs, without guilt.

I can exercise more easily now, and when I do have a hypo, I treat it properly — not with chocolate, which absorbs slowly because of the fat content, but with fast‑acting sweets like jelly babies or fruit pastilles. And because that’s medical treatment, not indulgence, I don’t count it.

One of the biggest joys has been rediscovering my love of cooking. My old spaghetti Bolognese was full‑fat mince, a glass of wine, and a mountain of Parmesan — delicious, but no wonder the weight crept on. And jarred sauces were often packed with hidden sugars. Now I make my own again, and it’s become a staple I’m proud of. I use 5% fat mince, tomatoes, tomato purée, beef stock, mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, garlic (because it isn’t a Bolognese without garlic), and a mix of Italian herbs — basil, thyme, oregano. If I want a hint of sweetness, I add a touch of sweetener, but often it doesn’t need it. It’s rich, satisfying, and perfect for both spaghetti and lasagna. I can bulk it out with carrots, celery, or courgette — and best of all, I can enjoy it with my pasta, without guilt, without deprivation, and without compromising my diabetes management. And yes, it will always include my Healthy Extra cheese.

My journey hasn’t been simple. It’s been thirty years of learning, adjusting, and starting again. But today, I feel healthier, more in control, and more myself than I have in decades. Slimming World didn’t just help me lose weight — it helped me find a way of living that works with my diabetes, not against it.

After everything — cancer, surgery, hypos, highs and lows — I finally feel like I’m moving forward.

Michelle says she couldn't have achieved all this without the power of staying to group, each week she would get the support of others and offer the same support back. Now Michelle is opening a new Slimming World group in Huntington to give back to the community the help and support she received.

Her group at Huntington Community Centre on the Stafford Road opens its doors on Wednesday, January 28, at 7pm. Michelle is fully trained in the psychology of behaviour and change management of Food Optimising. She has first class knowledge of Diabetes and we are proud to have a partnership with Diabetes UK.

If you want any more information on Michelle's group then give her a call on 07404 752469 or just come along on the night. Everyone welcome!