REWIND: My Motivation

Please note that the REWIND programme is no longer accepting new referrals.

I have been a patient member of the Harrow CCG diabetes strategy board since 2017, after being diagnosed with heart failure and type 2 diabetes in April 2010. 

In March 2020, when the UK announced a national lockdown, I was advised by the health secretary to shield for 12 weeks until the end of June, which was subsequently extended to the end of July 2020.  

As a result, we moved our consultancy practice to an online digital practice and I no longer visit friends, travel or go to shops or supermarkets. I do however take a 90-minute Nordic Walk every day. 

My shielding experience since the start of March 2020 with our consulting practice has taught me a lot.

Over the last year, I have not only learnt the value of using digital platforms to work more collaboratively but also, and perhaps more importantly, the value of making sure we take regular exercise every day and eat smart and healthy while confined to our homes.

REWIND

In September 2020, I was referred to a new programme being rolled out in Harrow called REWIND.

I had a call and interview with my GP, so that we could work through my questions and learn more about the communicative approach of this life-changing opportunity.

As part of the referral process, I was contacted by the programme providers, Xyla Health & Wellbeing, who advised that as I had a pre-existing heart failure condition, I would not be able to start the course until the 26th of January 2021.

Kick-starting my journey

Rather than waiting until then, I spent the weekend of the 24-25th of October with my wife and daughters trying to kick-start my REWIND journey.

Together, with the target of getting my HbA1c down to 42 by the 26th of January, we reviewed every last bit of information about REWIND on the Know Diabetes website and worked through the excellent World Foods Carbs and Cals book to plan out a four-week approach for a low carb diet, starting from the 31st October.   

I also decided to increase my exercise motivation as part of the annual Movember men’s health fundraising event that I have supported for the last 11 years. 

My progress so far

To date, I have lost 9.5kg and walked over 500km, while raising over £200 for my men’s health charity.

I now support REWIND patient engagement sessions to talk about my experience, address any concerns and offer advice to other people interested in joining REWIND.

I hope that I can inspire more people to take the first step in reversing their type 2 diabetes and reducing their medication while, like me, improving their quality of life after living with diabetes for 10 years.

In my next blog post, I'll talk more about the programme itself and my journey through it. 

Read part 2