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In a time when lifestyle diseases are becoming more common, stories of people turning their health around are getting attention for a reason. One such account, shared by Humans of Bombay on Instagram, traces Sumit Agarwal’s journey from severe obesity and fatigue to reversing Type 2 diabetes, not through shortcuts, but by slowly changing how he lived every day.
Sumit recalls how things had spiralled before he turned 40. His routine had almost no structure, and his food choices were heavily dependent on convenience and cravings.
“I reversed my diabetes at 42. But a few years ago, even walking to a shop felt impossible. I was 39, overweight, constantly exhausted, living on kachoris, rolls, late-night chai, and mithai. My days had no structure. Long work hours at my textile business, the stress of managing everything on my own, late-night meals, and no routine. I kept telling myself, ‘I’ll fix it later… next Monday se start kar lenge.’”
The impact wasn’t just physical. It started affecting his daily life and relationships at home.
“But my body was already giving up. I had crossed 100+ kilos. I’d get breathless just climbing stairs. I was always tired, no matter how much I slept. Whenever my daughter asked me to play, I’d say, ‘Not now, I’m tired.’ I could see the disappointment in her eyes.”
That moment, he says, became the turning point.
1. Switching to home-cooked food
“The next morning, I made a choice. I switched to 100% home-cooked food and cut out sugar and fried items. It was hard at first.”
2. Understanding cravings instead of ignoring them
“I still had cravings, but I stopped seeing them as weakness. I started seeing them as signals – maybe low energy, poor sleep, stress, or something missing in my body.”
3. Finding better alternatives
“So, instead of giving in, I turned to healthy alternatives – like cranberries.”
4. Starting small with movement
“Then, came movement. I started with slow walks. Even though I’d get tired in minutes, I kept going.”
5. Staying consistent over time
“It started with 10-minute runs, and slowly, within a month, I was running 5km.”
Over time, he added more activities like cycling, yoga, and gym workouts. The results followed gradually.
“In 11 months, my weight dropped from 110kg to under 80. But more than that, I got my energy, my health, and my life back. The best part? I finally reversed my diabetes.”
Dr. Gerald I. Shulman explains that reducing insulin resistance can effectively reverse the condition, and even modest weight loss — around 10%, has shown strong results in studies. These findings have been repeated across large groups.
Dr. Patricia Peter also points out that achieving a healthy weight, staying physically active, and reducing sugar and excess carbohydrates are key steps in managing and even reversing diabetes.
Experts warn that uncontrolled blood sugar over time can affect the heart, kidneys, nerves, and vision. This is why early action matters.
Today, Sumit says his life looks very different from what it once was. “My daughter and I do our 5km runs together. I now follow an OMAD diet and keep things in check. Beech beech mein mithai bhi kha leta hoon, but I always watch my portions. Ab toh aadat lag chuki hai.”
His biggest takeaway is simple and direct. “And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that consistency will change everything. Bas start kar lo.”
Sumit recalls how things had spiralled before he turned 40. His routine had almost no structure, and his food choices were heavily dependent on convenience and cravings.
“I reversed my diabetes at 42. But a few years ago, even walking to a shop felt impossible. I was 39, overweight, constantly exhausted, living on kachoris, rolls, late-night chai, and mithai. My days had no structure. Long work hours at my textile business, the stress of managing everything on my own, late-night meals, and no routine. I kept telling myself, ‘I’ll fix it later… next Monday se start kar lenge.’”
The impact wasn’t just physical. It started affecting his daily life and relationships at home.
“But my body was already giving up. I had crossed 100+ kilos. I’d get breathless just climbing stairs. I was always tired, no matter how much I slept. Whenever my daughter asked me to play, I’d say, ‘Not now, I’m tired.’ I could see the disappointment in her eyes.”
Diagnosis that changed everything
Things came to a halt after a routine health check-up revealed something unexpected. “One day, during a health check-up, I found out I had Type 2 Diabetes. There was no history of it in my family. I remember just sitting there, staring at the report. That’s when it hit me, it was time to change.”That moment, he says, became the turning point.
5 changes that helped him lose weight and regain health
He did not follow anything extreme at the start. Instead, he focused on basic shifts and stuck to them.1. Switching to home-cooked food
“The next morning, I made a choice. I switched to 100% home-cooked food and cut out sugar and fried items. It was hard at first.”
2. Understanding cravings instead of ignoring them
“I still had cravings, but I stopped seeing them as weakness. I started seeing them as signals – maybe low energy, poor sleep, stress, or something missing in my body.”
3. Finding better alternatives
“So, instead of giving in, I turned to healthy alternatives – like cranberries.”
4. Starting small with movement
“Then, came movement. I started with slow walks. Even though I’d get tired in minutes, I kept going.”
5. Staying consistent over time
“It started with 10-minute runs, and slowly, within a month, I was running 5km.”
Over time, he added more activities like cycling, yoga, and gym workouts. The results followed gradually.
“In 11 months, my weight dropped from 110kg to under 80. But more than that, I got my energy, my health, and my life back. The best part? I finally reversed my diabetes.”
What experts say about reversing Type 2 diabetes
Medical research supports the idea that such reversals are possible. According to Yale School of Medicine, Type 2 diabetes is largely driven by insulin resistance, a condition where the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, leading to high blood sugar.Dr. Gerald I. Shulman explains that reducing insulin resistance can effectively reverse the condition, and even modest weight loss — around 10%, has shown strong results in studies. These findings have been repeated across large groups.
Dr. Patricia Peter also points out that achieving a healthy weight, staying physically active, and reducing sugar and excess carbohydrates are key steps in managing and even reversing diabetes.
Experts warn that uncontrolled blood sugar over time can affect the heart, kidneys, nerves, and vision. This is why early action matters.
Today, Sumit says his life looks very different from what it once was. “My daughter and I do our 5km runs together. I now follow an OMAD diet and keep things in check. Beech beech mein mithai bhi kha leta hoon, but I always watch my portions. Ab toh aadat lag chuki hai.”
His biggest takeaway is simple and direct. “And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that consistency will change everything. Bas start kar lo.”
