Sharing my experience on Counterweight Plus

Jenny* is in her early forties and lives in Lothian with her family. She was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), having previously developed gestational diabetes whilst pregnant.  

Jenny’s blood glucose (HbA1c) levels were just over the threshold, indicating that she
had T2D but was at low risk of developing complications. By measuring HbA1c, our clinicians are
able to get an overall picture of what an individual’s average blood glucose (sugar) levels have been over a period of weeks or months. The higher the HbA1c, the greater risk of developing diabetes-related complications.

Following her diagnosis, Jenny was determined to do something about it and quickly sought advice from her GP. She said: “I initially managed to lose a little bit of weight on Metformin but not as fast as I would have liked and certainly not enough to bring me in to remission territory. When I spoke to my doctor and said I was willing to do something more drastic, he told me about the Counterweight Plus programme – and I quite literally jumped at the opportunity. From the offset it sounded really good.”

Jenny was referred to our T2D Remission Programme at the beginning of the year and started receiving support in February. This intensive weight loss programme, delivered by our specialist dietitians and based on evidence from the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT), is one of the key weight management interventions that we have rolled out for adults across the region. It consists of three important phases – total diet replacement, food reintroduction and weight loss maintenance – helping people to achieve and then sustain long-term remission.

Jenny said: “I knew that it would be tough so I was definitely apprehensive but ultimately the excitement overrode that. I tend to do my research on things and I’d read a lot about Counterweight Plus. Seeing the great trial results and opportunity to put my T2D into remission, was really encouraging. My GP was very reassuring and the idea of not having to think about what I was eating for twelve weeks (during the total diet replacement stage) was actually quite attractive.”

Just a few weeks in to the programme and having attended a couple of face-to-face clinics with Jonathan, one of our dietitians delivering Counterweight Plus across Lothian, Coronavirus hit Scotland. What was already a challenging time, suddenly ramped up a gear – with Jenny now receiving support remotely for the toughest part of the programme whilst juggling family and working life under lockdown. She said: “Being stuck at home all the time has definitely made things more difficult, especially with food reintroduction. I’ve had to stay strong to avoid temptations, such as my child frequently asking for snacks throughout the working day and a constantly stocked fridge.”

Despite these inevitable struggles, Jenny refused to give up and with Jonathan’s support has developed her own strategies to overcome hurdles when they arise. She added: “I find it really helps me to frame things by writing them down, so I’ve created a journal – where I’ve been recording triggers, motivations, barriers and actions. From not having the right ingredients in the house to allow me to cook a healthy dinner, to the pastry section being at the front of the supermarket, or the kitchen simply being in a mess, I’ve realised how important it is to be aware of and make changes to the environment around me.

“My husband has also been very supportive, joining me to lead a healthier lifestyle. Throughout lockdown we’ve started consciously buying healthy food, eating meals together and exercising as a family – we even bought a new puppy to help me to keep happy and active! Being limited to only one hour of exercise a day made that exercise a privilege, rather than a chore, and one that we really made the most of. I guess that’s the irony of being told you can’t do something.”

When the number of coronavirus cases began to rise at a rapid pace, Jenny discovered that this also only increased her determination. She said: “I was keeping track of the statistics and groups who were most vulnerable, and quickly realised that diabetes was high on that list. So it literally felt like a life or death situation for me, where succeeding was no longer optional.”

Whilst consultations have taken place over video call, Jenny has managed to build a great rapport with Jonathan – taking advantage of the flexibility that comes with being able to check in with the click of a button and from the comfort of your own home. She said: “Jonathan has been that consistent, non-judgemental ear – a person to talk to who recognises this isn’t easy. He always accepts how I’m feeling and then helps me to work through it. I’m also very grateful that you provide psychological support as part of the programme. Whilst I haven’t spoken to your psychologist yet, just knowing that she’s there and that this support is readily available, has really spurred me on.”

Jenny’s commitment to changing her life and resilience throughout lockdown, has meant that she’s already starting to reap some of the benefits. Despite being unable to measure Hba1c levels remotely, Jenny’s blood glucose results, weight loss and largely positive experience to date, all indicate that she’s heading in the right direction. And knowing that she’s on the road to remission is what keeps Jenny going. She said: “I’ve accepted the fact that I’m never going to be super skinny but what matters to me is the long-term health benefits – feeling good and being around for my daughter when she grows up. I’ve lost twenty kilos since I was first diagnosed and feel great because of it. I’m also hitting my target of 10,000 steps a day and have a lot more energy.”

As she looks to the weeks ahead and maintaining all of this fantastic progress, Jenny is optimistic. She said: “I’d absolutely recommend Counterweight Plus to others and am confident that with the ongoing support from Jonathan and acceptance that they’ll be ups and downs – I can and will achieve my goals.”

Jonathan couldn’t agree more and reflected: “It’s brilliant to see that, despite this unprecedented and challenging situation, there are people out there like Jenny who have turned things around for the positive. And who stand a very high chance of coming out of the pandemic, having put their T2D into remission. That is an incredible outcome.”

Jenny’s top tips for others taking part in
Counterweight Plus

Log everything.
Even if you make mistakes, just get in to the habit of logging them. It will help you to work out how to tackle similar challenges when they inevitably arise again.

Be prepared.
There’s no point in pretending that this will be easy, so by doing your research and making sure you are aware of what the programme involves, you can identify coping mechanisms and develop strategies to get through the tough parts.

Be honest.
If you’ve got something on your mind or you’ve had some form of setback, be unapologetically and brutally honest. You won’t be the first or the last to slip up and if you can’t be honest with the person there to support you, they won’t be able to help. Honesty also allows you to build trust and rapport with your dietitian, which ultimately makes all the difference.

Be kind to yourself.
It’s easy to get into a bit of a shame cycle when you’re not kind to yourself, particularly during food reintroduction. If I veer off course and start beating myself up, then all I do is veer further off course. If you’re kind to yourself and just accept that set backs are natural, then you stand much more chance of success.

Stick with it.
There’s always going to be points where you feel like giving up, but use the support which you’re given and do everything you can to keep going. The results are 100% worth it.

 

*This is not the individual’s real name as they wish to remain anonymous.