Why Most People Stay Stuck After a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis
- Derek Dean
- Aug 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 6
If you’ve recently been told you have Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, there’s a good chance your experience felt a bit like this…
The Common Path
You went in for your yearly check-up.
Maybe you weren’t expecting anything major — just some routine labs.
The doctor's office calls you after and says: “Your blood sugar is a little high. Let’s schedule a follow-up in 3 months.”
Three months later, you’re back at the office. You have more blood work done, and your doctor walks in with your results: “It looks like you have diabetes...
...Your A1c is a 7 (or insert your number), so I want you to take this medication called Metformin to help lower your blood sugar...
...And let’s schedule you another appointment in the next 3 months to discuss things further with you and see how things are going.”
And that’s it.
Maybe they said a little more, maybe not. But if you’ve had this experience (or something close to it), you’re not alone.
What Most People Say Their Doctor Told Them
I hear from people all the time who say things like:
“They gave me a prescription, but didn’t really explain how the medicine works or explain side effects to watch for.”
“I was told I’d probably need medication for the rest of my life.”
“They said diabetes gets worse over time, and I’d likely end up on insulin.”
“They told me to watch my sugar or cut back on carbs… but didn’t say what that actually means.”
“I was told to eat in moderation, but no one showed me what that looks like.”
Some doctors are more helpful than others (especially ones who have allowed more time in their schedule). But even with good intentions, most appointments are short. There isn’t enough time for real education, and many patients leave with more questions than answers.
The Food Confusion
A lot of people walk away thinking:
"Okay, I guess I’ll try to eat better. But what does that even mean?"
You might have been told to eat 45–60 grams of carbs per meal… or to eat more whole grains, fruit, and low-fat foods. Maybe you were given a flyer with sample meals — that still included cereal, low-fat yogurt, or even bread.
Sound familiar?
Many people feel lost because the advice they get is vague, confusing, or outdated based on current research.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about what you should be eating — you’re not alone.
If you were to look at what the American Diabetes Association (ADA) says about dietary recommendations, they seem to recommend opposite things.
On one hand, they suggest eating foods that are high in carbohydrates — like starchy vegetables, whole grains, low-fat products, and even artificially sweetened zero-calorie drinks.
But on the other hand, they warn that carbohydrates can spike your blood sugar. They are sending two very different messages — and they’re confusing for anyone trying to figure out what to eat.
They do the same thing with fat: in one paragraph, they say “eat low-fat yogurt,” and in another, “eat healthy fats.” Which is it?
No wonder you're not sure what to eat.
And to make it more frustrating, Type 2 diabetes is already a problem with processing carbohydrates (sugars). So telling someone with diabetes to eat more of them — even “healthy” ones — doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
This kind of guidance is outdated, and it often misses the bigger picture: real blood sugar control starts by reducing the foods that drive your blood sugar up — not just managing it afterward.
This is why so many medications are often needed.
When you're constantly spiking your blood sugar — even with so-called “healthy” foods — the body needs more help to bring it back down.
So the medication list grows, doses increase, and the root of the problem never actually gets addressed.
Then the Medications Begin…
If you’re newly diagnosed, you might start with one medication, like Metformin. If you’ve had diabetes for a few years, you might already be on two or three medications.
You go in for check-ups, labs are drawn, and if your blood sugar isn’t improving, they might increase your dose or add another medication.
And here’s the part no one really tells you:
The medications don’t fix the root of the problem — insulin resistance.
Why This Matters
If your journey with Type 2 diabetes has felt like a slow drift toward more meds, more confusion, and more frustration — you’re not alone.
But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
You can take back control by understanding what’s really going on in your body. If you haven’t read the post before this, "What Is Type 2 Diabetes – Really?", I encourage you to check it out. It will give you the foundation you need to see the bigger picture — beyond just blood sugar.
And in the next post, we’ll break down exactly what diabetes medications do and why they often don’t work long-term. A Hint: they mainly focus on managing the symptom of “high blood sugar”.
Hi, I'm Derek Dean and I help people with Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes balance their blood sugar & lower their A1c without relying on more medications so they can confidently reclaim their health and live with more energy, freedom, & control.
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