Exactly 10 years ago, at the age of 28, I was diagnosed with advanced type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Although the changes in my body and the discomfort I was experiencing clearly indicated this, I couldn’t bring myself to accept it at that age, until my doctor said, “You could even go into a coma the moment you walk out that door.” I returned home with a prescription for 15 kilos to lose urgently, 3,000 mg of medication daily, and my doctor’s recommendations for a new life. I opened the pantry, which should normally be full of legumes and spices, but is instead filled with junk food, as is common in bachelor’s homes. I stuffed all the packaged goods, chips, wafers, chocolates, and biscuits that had been my dinner until then into a garbage bag. I didn’t forget the rice, pasta, flour, honey, and molasses either. Next came the refrigerator. When I put all the jam and similar products in the bag, I was done because I had decided I wouldn’t be a 40-year-old with diseased internal organs and dependent on insulin injections. An empty kitchen and my new life stared back at me. Up to this point, everything was easy and had only taken five minutes, but how was a person who used to sleep with a bowl of Turkish pudding by their bedside going to implement these decisions? My first three days were spent crying, wondering, “Will I never be able to eat aşure or keşkül again?” But I quickly recovered. I wasn’t addicted to any food, and my life would be much better without them. Ten years later, today, looking back on those days, I’m so glad I faced that illness then. Otherwise, I don’t know what my life and health would be like now. What made me cry back then makes me laugh today.

I first went to a dietitian for proper guidance. When she gave me half a bagel for breakfast, something didn’t make sense to me. It didn’t match what my doctor had said. A bagel equals white flour and molasses. White flour would quickly turn into sugar in my body. Molasses would do the same. I decided there was a mistake and started researching it myself. I learned that sugar is one of the biggest poisons we put into our bodies, how it damages all our cells, including our brains, every time we eat it, and most importantly, that sugar is an addiction. So, addictions are meant to be overcome, and that’s what I was going to do. Sugar is like a friend that you crave more when you eat it, but completely forget about when you don’t. From that day on, I never consumed refined sugar again.

I created a plan for myself. In the first stage, I replaced all my bread, flour, pasta, and rice with unprocessed, whole-grain versions because all processed “white” foods quickly enter our bloodstream, further destabilizing our sugar levels, which we’re constantly trying to keep balanced. Whole grains, on the other hand, enter the bloodstream more slowly, raising our sugar levels gradually and providing a feeling of fullness for longer. I incorporated real food into my diet. More vegetables, fruits, legumes, salads (the best), more pure protein, unroasted nuts, snacks, and a 45-minute walk every day became my routine. I bought those three-piece lunch boxes from Sirkeci (I always saw them in Kemal Sunal’s films, may he rest in peace) and started carrying my own food everywhere I go so that outside distractions wouldn’t tempt me.

Didn’t I get those sweet cravings? They really hit me! Every time I wanted something sweet, I munched on carob pods like a rabbit and ate dried fruit. It all worked. After 3 months, I had lost 7 kilos, and my 3-month blood sugar balance measurement (hA1C) had dropped to 6%. So, I was on the right track. And after the first few months, it all came easily… My doctor’s congratulations gave me even more strength and motivation. I was regaining my health and feeling more beautiful and active by losing weight.

And that’s exactly where my 10-year journey of constantly evolving and renewing my nutrition and exercise routine begins. Yes, everything was going well, but being without many of my favorite foods was starting to upset me. Also, I was learning something new every day. I needed to bring back the foods I missed, but they had to be compatible with my new and ultimate nutritional system. A new research adventure was beginning for me. I’ll start describing this long journey, which I’m still on, in my next post.

For now, I wish everyone happy and sugar-free days.

This article was originally published on www.hthayat.com on December 5, 2016, and is a quote from the site.