When Ria found out she had Type 2 diabetes at 35, it felt like everything in her life had to change overnight. She’d always been the kind of person who enjoyed food – a bit of extra rice here, a sweet after dinner there. She loved sitting down with her family for chai and snacks. But now, her doctor’s words kept ringing in her ears: “Your HbA1c is 8.7%. That’s high. We need to work on this, or you could face complications down the line.” She felt like her life is devastated.

Ria had no idea what HbA1c even meant before that day. She sat quietly as her diabetes doctor explained it: a measure of her blood sugar levels over the past few months. The number was a warning sign, but he reassured her. “It’s manageable,” he said. “Every small step you take can make a difference.” She nodded, but deep down, she felt overwhelmed.

Making Changes, One Step at a Time

The first few weeks after her diagnosis were the hardest. Ria didn’t know where to start. The foods she loved now felt off-limits, and even the idea of going for a walk felt like a chore. But she knew she had to try. She began with small changes: cutting back on sugar in her tea, replacing her beloved white rice with brown rice, going for short walks around her block, and using a weight loss calculator to track her progress.

“It was frustrating at first,” Ria admitted. “I’d walk for 10 minutes and feel like it wasn’t enough. But then I’d remind myself — it’s better than nothing.”

Over time, those short walks became longer, and her meals started to feel less like sacrifices. She even began experimenting with new recipes. Lentil soups, stir-fried vegetables, and grilled chicken became regulars on her table, replacing the fried snacks she once craved. Chicken’s glycemic index is low and therefore is healthy for diabetics.

The First Sign of Progress

Three months later, Ria returned to her doctor for a follow-up. She felt nervous as the nurse checked her weight and drew blood for the HbA1c test. When the results came back, her doctor smiled.

“You’ve brought your HbA1c down to 7.4%,” he said. “That’s a big improvement.”

Ria’s heart swelled with pride. She had worked so hard, and it was paying off. That evening, she celebrated with her family, but instead of cake or sweets, they went for a walk together and ended the night watching her favorite movie. It wasn’t her usual way of celebrating, but it felt just as special.

Learning from Setbacks

Not every day was easy, though. Festivals and family gatherings were especially tough. The tables would be full of rich, tempting dishes, and well-meaning relatives would insist, “A little bit won’t hurt.” Sometimes, she gave in, only to see her blood sugar spike later.

“There were moments when I felt like a failure,” Ria said. “It’s hard to stay on track all the time, especially when everyone around you doesn’t fully understand what you’re dealing with.”

One particularly difficult time came during a family wedding. The sweets, the late nights, the stress — it all added up. When Ria checked her blood sugar one morning and saw a much higher reading than usual, she felt defeated. But instead of giving up, she reached out to a friend who also had diabetes.

“She told me, ‘It’s okay to slip up now and then. What matters is getting back on track.’ That really stuck with me,” Ria said.

Celebrating Small Wins

Over time, Ria learned to focus on progress, not perfection. She started setting small goals for herself: walking an extra five minutes, trying a new vegetable, drinking more water. Each time she met a goal, she felt a little more confident.

Six months after her diagnosis, Ria’s HbA1c was down to 6.8%. Her doctor told her she was now in the prediabetic range. For Ria, it wasn’t just a number. It was proof that her hard work was paying off.

“I started rewarding myself,” she said. “If I stuck to my routine for a week, I’d buy myself a new book or some nice candles. It gave me something to look forward to.”

A New Way of Life

Now, two years later, Ria’s HbA1c is 5.6%, well within the normal glucose range. While she’s proud of the progress she’s made, she knows the journey isn’t over. Managing diabetes is something she’ll have to work on every day, but she’s okay with that.

“I’ve stopped thinking of it as a battle,” Ria said. “It’s just part of my life now. And every good glucose day feels like a little victory.”

For anyone struggling with diabetes, Ria has this advice: “Start small. Don’t try to change everything overnight. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small they seem. They all add up.”

Her story isn’t just about lowering her HbA1c. It’s about taking control of her life, one step at a time, and finding joy in the journey.