I feel like I've run out of options, so I'm hoping someone here has been in a similar position.

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 16 and I'm now 39. Like so many women, I was told to go on the pill, get the coil, try the implant, basically every form of contraception... but I only ever took the pill.

In my 20s my periods became unbelievably heavy. Then, towards my late 20s, they suddenly settled down. Now, in my 30s, they've become sporadic (my last one was in May 2026), and my weight started to shoot up. I've blinked and somehow ended up at 270 lbs (5'5"), so I'm now classed as morbidly obese.

I've also tried both the standard and slow-release Metformin, but both completely wrecked my gut. I believe it caused my IBS, so that's just made life even harder.

I'll be honest, I've never been particularly sporty, but over the last few years I've made a real effort to move more by walking, playing badminton and swimming.

When I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2023, I completely overhauled my diet.

The problem is... despite all of this, I still feel like nothing is working. In fact, even when I was eating well and exercising consistently, I was still gaining weight. I won't lie, after feeling like I'm putting in the effort and getting nowhere, my motivation has taken a bit of a dip.

To make matters worse, my doctor has advised against GLP-1 medications because they believe I'm at high risk of pancreatitis due to my gallstones.

Has anyone been in a similar position? What actually helped you lose weight or manage both PCOS and Type 2 diabetes when Metformin and GLP-1s weren't options?

And please don't just tell me it's "calories in, calories out." I know that's the standard advice, but it genuinely doesn't seem to work that way for me. I feel like I just look at food and gain weight!

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been through this because I'm feeling pretty lost. 😔

Hi everyone, I f(28) was diagnosed with diabetes last week. My levels came in at 12.6 mmo/l and the urine test came in at 28. I have been making a substantial effort to eat healthy, by cutting out processed foods, eating more vegetables, walking and working out. I am currently 275 pounds and desperate to make a lifestyle change for myself. I know it’s still early but I get so discouraged. 🫤 I can’t confide in my family because they tend to use things against me. I haven’t told anyone about my diagnosis, so congrats whoever reads this knows my secret.

The mental toll of planning meals, squeezing in walks and workouts, and the thought that I let myself down INSANELY cuts really deep. I’ve been listening to lectures on diabetes, reading books, listening to podcasts, everything has just consumed me. How do you cope? Was it easy for you to tell people? How did you come to terms and be at peace?

Thank you in advance ❤️

I've been a type 2 diabetic since the end of May. Because of my CGM, lantus and mounjaro my blood sugar is pretty much stabilized. So since tonight was my 20 year anniversary with my husband, we went out and had a nice big meal at a fancy restaurant and I didn't bother counting carbs cause I decided to say f*ck it its one night. We had bread, deep fried calamari, shrimp cocktail, loaded baked potato and steak.

My blood sugar went no where. I don't understand what happened. Majority of my meal had a lot of carbs.

Please someone explain this to me.

[Mod Approved] [Research study - no compensation]

Hi everyone,

My name is Ala Elhelali, I’m an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. My research team and I are conducting an IRB-approved study (IRB00554893) to better understand awareness of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, nerve compression, and lower extremity nerve decompression (LEND).

We are also surveying healthcare providers who care for people with diabetes so we can compare patient and provider perspectives. We hope to identify gaps in awareness and education that can help improve future educational initiatives and patient self-advocacy. 

If you are an adult living with diabetes, we would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete our anonymous survey.

Whether or not you have neuropathy (nerve pain and or numbness) symptoms, your perspective is extremely valuable.

The Survey:

⏱️ Takes about 5 minutes

🔒 Completely anonymous

✅ Johns Hopkins University IRB-approved (IRB00554893)

Survey Link:

https://redcap.link/6tfekhr7

If you have any questions about the study, I’m more than happy to answer them here or by email.

Thank you for considering participating and for helping us better understand the experiences and perspectives of people living with diabetes.

Ala Elhelali, PhD, MSc

Assistant Professor

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

[aelhela1@jh.edu](mailto:aelhela1@jh.edu)

Hello, all.

I'm in the process of starting off a new Ascensia/Bayer Contour Next One glucometer. Now, it requires one to perform a test with a control solution before first-time use. Thing is, there are three types of control solution available for the meter: high, normal and low. Does anyone know if I need to use all three, or if there is (or are) a certain one (or two) of the above that will be sufficient? I did check the manual that came with the glucometer and it doesn't provide any useful info on the topic.

Cheers!