GLOW study

 So, as a recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic I was invited to take part in a study, comparing two different programmes aimed at people like me:

https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/research/studies/glow/

I could have been assigned to go to a series of group sessions called DESMOND, or I could have been assigned to have a couple of appointments with a dietician plus a free 6 month WW subscription. I had a pretty strong preference for the former, and nearly didn't sign up to the study as a result but decided to give it a go (I'm a sucker for studies! If you've had two AZ vaccines and the second was before 16th April look up the CovBoost study! I don't quite qualify). WW didn't appeal at all as a former long-term SW member, and I don't want to end up constantly weighing and logging and obsessiing - especially as I've already lost of a bit of weight through just taking Metformin and reducing bulk carbs.

It turns out I've been assigned to the WW arm of course.

I've done a home test kit of squeeze out a big enough blood sample for them to test my hbA1c, filled in and posted a huge questionnaire about how I eat and how I exercise and my attitudes to food (to look out for eating disordered behaviour), I've got an activity monitor to wear continuously for a week (meaning I've switched my fitbit to my other arm, which is mildly uncomfortable, but it's only a week), and I've got my first dietician call scheduled for Thursday and have been encouraged to sign up for WW straight away, which I have.

2 days of logging my food and I've got the scales out, I'm cutting back on things that work for me because they're too many points, and I'm faintly hungry but not sure if it's physical or psychological, and I'm still eating more than my daily SmartPoints allowance (though not run out of weekly ones yet). I'm going to stick it out at least for a bit. The dietician should help me set goals which are realistic for me, and which may mean telling WW I want to eat healthy but not lose weight (if necessary).

Heck, if the result of the trial is not to send people to WW if they don't want to because they'll quit then I guess that's a good result.

Addendum: relatedly I've also joined Diabetes UK for a regular magazine and some introductory material for type 2 diabetics, and I've signed up to do 1 million steps in July/August/September to raise money for them, which is going to be interesting, given I average more like half the number of steps a day I'm going to need!

Justgiving link for more info: https://www.justgiving.com/eleanor1282