Work from home and in a spiral downwards (c 2018). Obese with Type II Diabetes and high cholesterol. Clammy from the medication.

However, many years ago now (1996) I went on a low carb diet and succeeded in a great loss of weight. I had a lot of time being straight out of university and unable to find a job, and needing to budget heavily. It then occurred to drop my energy intake and select carefully what I would eat. The downside is it took a lot of effort to understand and log nutrition, not having the resources we have now freely available. I switched to a vegan lifestyle for personal reasons.

Unfortunately, my nearest and dearest saw the sudden weight loss as a sign of an eating disorder. I argued my point sadly arguing got me sectioned. My mixed race background meant a determination of schizophrenia was one I could not shake. (Have you ever tried to argue your mental health with a professional? Yes, I believe that is the very definition of madness. I did over the course of being sectioned eventually suffer what I would class as a mental breakdown with nobody to turn to.

My recommendation is to inform the doctor or keep them aware of any approach you take on board. They will neither understand but specifically if you are of black ethnicity it helps to, "cover your assets". Family meanwhile is a tricky obstacle. In my case 5 years later my grandad suffered a stroke and subsequently a large part of my extended family came out of the closet over the cholesterol problem we suffer.

With a family of my own now I am desperate to get back in good health. My partner does not quite get the drive, is keen to make me 'feel better' with chocolate, cake, crisps and all the common pick me up snacks we make a crutch of. So I still have a bunch of hurdles and still a lot of experience of how to be better prepared to handle and expect fall-out from those in a position of assumed power.