Newly diagnosed type 2 questions

[CiderFromLemon]

I've just been diagnosed with Type 2 based on blood tests results of 48, up from 46 in February.

I had GD in pregnancy, diet controlled with my first, insulin controlled with my second. Also have PCOS.

I know from my many, many attempts at dieting and from the GD that I can't really tolerate carbs at all. I'm so annoyed with myself, have been vaguely trying 16:8 and low carb for the last few months but my family are all committed carb fiends and fussy eaters so I eventually just fall back into eating what they have for simplicity. I hate to make excuses, but we've just been so busy and overwhelmed lately and my diet has not been prioritised.

The only thing that has ever truly worked for me was a VLCD with lots of exercise, but pregnancy reversed the good work each time. I've not been able to do VLCD again as I've been breastfeeding.

I've got a few weeks before I see anyone to discuss but have some questions in the meantime.

I read that losing 15kg in 5 months is normally enough to reverse it. But what happens then? Do you go back to annual blood tests? I would really prefer some ongoing support with diet and fitness, I definitely have some emotional eating issues.

For people who have reversed it, does it tend to stay reversed as long as you maintain the lifestyle changes? I'm a bit terrified that it's just an inevitable condition that I can't escape from.

Also, as mentioned, I'm still BF my 2 year old. Could that affect any treatment options?

Thanks in advance

Feel your pain re carb fiends as family but I have found that I just substitute veg / salad for carbs. Is this an option?
Eg I have stir fried cabbage instead of pasta, extra veg instead of potatoes and iceberg lettuce for wraps. Not ideal but not too much additional work. You might also find that your tolerance to carbs increases once you lose weight. Exercise has also helped me as well.
You do need a long term approach you can stick to otherwise it will just return - I don’t know if you can permanently reverse it but pushing drugs further down the line has to be worth a go.

I had GD too and became T2D eight years later. Initially I got my figures right back down by low carbing but then that stopped working. Now on one Metformin and I still low carb and I’m back down again. I just figure I’ll probably be up and down from now on!!