19/02/2026
“I’m a retired solicitor and in 2013, during my regular medical check-up, I was told that I was on the verge of developing type 2 diabetes. I had no symptoms and knew very little about the condition. I went onto receive a confirmed diagnosis of type 2 and was put on medication to lower my blood sugar levels.
“As the years passed, my appointments showed my blood sugar levels were increasing. Then in 2019, I was told that my sugar levels had really shot up and they wanted to prescribe further diabetes medication. At that point I said, “hold on” and that was the first time I started to think about what was happening with my body.
“I started reading up on type 2 diabetes and recognised how important it was to change my diet. I decided to make changes, and I completely changed my diet. Three months later, following another blood test, I had lowered my HbA1c from 59 to 40 and no longer needed any medication to lower my blood sugar levels.
"Being a Muslim, I am familiar with fasting once a year during Ramadan. However, I decided that I would incorporate some fasting all year round. I looked at a combination of intermittent fasting as part of my new eating regime, alongside reducing some of my carbs, especially rice. Ramadan is very much a time of reflection and a time to look forward and celebrate the year ahead.”
"It has been six and a half years now and I have pretty much maintained my remission. What has really helped me has been reading other people’s experiences about how to stop feeling hungry, what to eat, when to eat, and intermittent fasting.
“I recall reading a blog by a patient just like me and he had said to his doctor, “I'm really pleased the diet seems to have worked, I've lost weight, and everything has improved, so when do I go back to my normal self?” And the doctor replied, “This is your new normal.” That’s how I now feel about myself. This is my new normal, my normal way of eating, drinking, and living.”
Mohammed spoke to us about his experiences of putting his type 2 into remission and as he looks towards Ramadan, how his relationship with food has changed over the years.
