I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes eight years ago. A year later, I lost some weight and was able to go off my medication. I eat when I'm stressed, and when my 22-year-old son had kidney and heart failure, I started putting on weight again. I had to go back on the medication.

After three years on dialysis, my son received a kidney transplant and went back to college. I started putting my life back together mentally, spiritually, and physically. However, I had put on a lot of weight and couldn't seem to start losing. The medication wasn't helping my blood sugar levels, and my doctor and I were talking about starting insulin. I was also beginning to have eye problems. It wasn't due to diabetes, but I knew it was only a matter of time before that became a factor.

I found the Beach on the Internet one night. I liked that it was a way of eating that made sense from a health point of view. I was not crazy about Atkins or a low-fat diet that I couldn't stay on. My husband and I started together in June, even though he didn't have nearly as much weight to lose. The hardest thing for me was starting when watermelon and corn on the cob were coming into season! I love watermelon and always thought of it as a nonfattening food that you could eat a lot of. My husband and I both felt pretty lousy the first week as we fought our carb addictions. We had headaches and were achy all over, but after that we felt great. We started trying the recommended menus, but after going to Phase 2, we gradually went to the list of recommended foods for each meal. We each follow our own schedule and can just mix and match what's available.

What I like best about the diet is doing it online when I have free time. I work most days and teach piano most evenings, so I can't go to any kind of weight-loss class. With the South Beach Diet Online I can log on late at night or early in the morning. I really like the Message Boards, especially the diabetic one. We are very supportive of each other. I feel like I can encourage other people and give them hope.

One thing I do to motivate myself is to set small goals and reward myself when I make them. I have a charm bracelet, and I get a new charm for every 10 pounds. I now have five charms on it. I started on June 25, and I have lost 50 pounds so far. I have 20 to go. We are planning a trip to some romantic island when I make that goal. I was hoping for Christmas, but that was pretty unrealistic. I am planning on a Valentine's trip, though.

The response from my family and friends has been wonderful. The best part is running into someone I haven't seen for awhile — some have not recognized me. When my husband and I went to a concert last month, I later heard he was there with a strange woman! It is also VERY nice to shop in the regular women's clothes department. Yesterday, I even bought a medium top, and it fit! Lots better than the 2x I was wearing!

Submitted December 23, 2003