So Much Has Happened!
Summary: After an unexpected six-month break from blogging, this post is a look at the major health and lifestyle changes that have happened in my life since a brutal bout of gastroenteritis earlier this year. What started as a horrible illness somehow became the catalyst for completely changing the way I eat, move, sleep and manage my Type 1 diabetes.
Introduction
It feels very strange to be sitting down to write here again after six months away. I didn’t intentionally disappear for that long, but somewhere between life, health and trying to keep up with everything else, blogging quietly slipped into the background. In that time though, so much has changed that it almost feels impossible to pick back up where I left off without first sharing what’s happened.
What started with one horrendous bout of gastroenteritis unexpectedly became the beginning of a complete shift in my health, habits and mindset. Over the past six months, my relationship with food, exercise, sleep, energy levels and even my Type 1 diabetes management has changed dramatically. Some of the changes have been physical, some mental, and some honestly still feel a little surreal to me — but looking back now, it feels like the right time to finally put it all into words.
Six Months Away… and a Lot Has Changed
Well. It’s been a while.
Six months, in fact.
I didn’t exactly plan to disappear from blogging for half a year, but life had other ideas — and honestly, my health journey over these past few months has been so unexpectedly transformative that it almost feels fitting to come back with a proper update.
Because a lot has changed.
The Gastroenteritis From Hell
Six months ago, I got gastroenteritis.
And not the “slightly regretting tequila choices from Thursday night” kind. This was the full horror-film version.
I was so ill. Relentless vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration — the works. I couldn’t eat anything at all for four whole days. During that time, I mostly rotated between lying on the sofa and repeatedly telling myself, “You are going to survive this.”
Surprisingly though, my blood sugars were mostly spot-on throughout the whole thing. Apparently when you remove carb-counting, nutrition-balancing, exercise decisions, stress, schedules and all the other moving parts of normal life, diabetes occasionally decides to behave itself for once.
It was grim.
But strangely… something shifted afterwards.
The Unexpected Reset
When I recovered from the illness, I noticed something almost immediately:
I had energy.
Not normal “I slept well” energy. Different energy.
I suddenly just needed to move.
So I started walking. A lot.
And I felt good.
(Yes, in the Michael Bublé kind of way!)
What shocked me most was that my long-standing sugar cravings just… disappeared. I’ve had a complicated relationship with sugar cravings for years (honestly, that deserves its own post), but suddenly I didn’t want it anymore.
Instead, my body started asking for actual nutrition.
Real food.
Fresh food.
I now genuinely regularly crave salad, which frankly feels like a medical event in itself!
Feeding My Body Properly
These days, I eat mostly whole foods — aside from the occasional hypo treatment, because diabetes still likes to keep things interesting.
I also massively increased my hydration. Living in a hot climate while walking far more than I used to means my body genuinely needs water now, and I actually want to drink it. I regularly drink 3–4 litres a day, which would previously have sounded absolutely impossible to me.
I also prioritise protein and now eat around 110g per day.
Somewhere along the way, my mindset around food completely changed. It stopped being about restriction or “being good” and became much more about asking:
“What actually helps me feel strong, healthy and energised?”
And honestly? That shift alone has been life-changing.
Becoming Someone Who Moves
Once I started moving more, things naturally progressed.
I began lifting heavier weights in the gym. Then I added a third gym session each week. Then I started adding movement purely because I enjoyed it.
Ballroom dancing.
Rollerskating.
Cycling.
Hiking.
Badminton.
Yoga.
That random activity you’ve never tried before… Trampolining, anyone? [I recommend it! Great fun!!]
Exercise stopped feeling like punishment and started feeling like something I genuinely wanted to do.
Over the months, my body transformed alongside my lifestyle. Altogether, I’ve lost around 45lb (20kg), and for the first time in my life, I’d probably describe my physique as athletic.
Which still feels slightly surreal to put in writing.
The Little Things That Add Up
There are also all the smaller habits that quietly changed in the background.
I now supplement with creatine, collagen, electrolytes and protein powder.
I eat whole foods for nearly every meal.
I sleep properly.
And honestly, the sleep part might be one of the biggest changes of all.
I’m now usually asleep by around 9:30pm and awake at 6am. My ADHD symptoms have improved dramatically. I can focus properly now. I complete tasks. I follow through on plans.
I feel productive.
Capable.
I’m actually achieving things in my life — including finally returning to write this blog post!
The Diabetes Update
And then there’s the diabetes side of things.
My HbA1c has dropped to 6.5%, which I’m incredibly happy with. Still more to go, but great for now!
In fact, at my last diabetology appointment, my always-looking-for-improvement diabetologist actually had no “feedback”!!
None.
If you live with Type 1 diabetes, you’ll understand why that felt almost auspicious… Or suspicious!!
So… What Now?
I don’t really feel like the same person I was six months ago.
What started as one horrible illness somehow became the catalyst for a complete reset in how I treat my body, my health and myself in general.
I’m stronger. Healthier. More focused. More energised.
And perhaps most importantly — I finally feel like I’m working with my body instead of constantly fighting against it.
There’s still a lot I want to write about from these past few months (including the whole sugar craving situation for one, because that story deserves its own spotlight), but for now, this felt like the right place to restart.
And honestly?
It feels really good to be back.
Closing Thoughts
Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much has changed in just six months. What began as one of the worst illnesses I’ve ever had somehow became the catalyst for rebuilding my health in a way I never expected. I still have plenty to learn, and I’m sure there will be challenges along the way, but for the first time in a very long time, I genuinely feel well — stronger, calmer, more capable, and far more connected to what my body actually needs. And honestly, it feels really good to be back here writing again.
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Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie’s special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical ‘knowledge’ and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.
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