Islets of Hope  healthy living for persons with diabetes

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A Pictoral History of a Formerly Obese Woman
Lahle Wolfe, Founder, Islets of Hope

Lahle has polycystic ovarian syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, asthma, and diabetes type 2.  To read more, visit "About the Founder"

Age 20, 2 years before before PCOS
began to take over my body and self-esteem.

 

 

At age 27 I was diagnosed with PCOS.

By this time I had already gained over 100 lbs. 

 

Over the next few years I continued gaining,

eventually ending up....

 

 


April 1996, 272 lbs.

. . . Morbidly Obese

 

 

In November of 1996, disgusted with myself,

I went on Weight Watchers* (low-fat, high-carb diet).  The results . . .

 

 


December, 1996, 287 lbs.

. . . I gained 15 lbs in 3 weeks.

My doctor said I must be lying about what I was eating .

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes he put me on
another high-carb, low-fat diet; this time,


1,000 calories per day.

 

I gained weight.

 

I could not understand why, the more I dieted, the bigger I got.

 

Then I heard, for the very first time, the words

insulin resistance

and

low-carb diet

 

The results . . .

 


May 1998
After 13 months on low-carb living I lost 140 lbs.

 

 

Some say that low-carb takes it off, but won't keep it off.

No one can live this way.

 

 


Summer 2005

 

Today, 10 years later, I am still counting carbs.

To be honest, it is not much fun, but it works!

 

My last HbA1c was 5.2

My cholesterol is normal.

My triglycerides are normal.

My blood pressure is good.

 

I still have diabetes.

 

Every 40 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes.  Every 3 minutes someone dies from complications of diabetes.

We still need a cure . . . in the next three minutes/

Islets of Hope.com

 

 

 

*  Weight Watchers  is a healthy, well-respected, lifestyle plan that can be used safely and effectively for weight management.  However, in 1996 they did not let persons with type 2 diabetes participate in their program.  In fairness to Weight Watchers, I was not honest about my medical situation.  Today, Weight Watchers does permit type 2 diabetics to join their program.  While they do not have a specific program for diabetes, they offer the "Core Plan," a low-glycemic, "good carbs" plan that may be beneficial to those with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

    

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Page Updated 01/11/2006