Life with diabetes and obesity

What is life like with diabetes and obesity? Ahead of World Obesity Day on the 4th March, Rochelle Levitt shares her story…

Could you tell us how diabetes and obesity are related for you?

We’ve traveled a long journey together! My immediate family are a large bunch – my mom passed away when I was 19 (of diabetic-related problems), my dad has always been borderline and one of my three brothers has Type 2 diabetes.

I’ve always lost weight, then gained double back. It was only after the loss of my son (he was stillborn) and back surgery in 2013 that I started having telltale signs of Type 2 diabetes. A tinny taste in my mouth, lethargic and constant thirst. Everyone said by looking at me, due to my size, I had to be diabetic.

Does living with obesity make diabetes harder?

Living with diabetes is most definitely harder to function with being obese, as there’s so much stigma. “Oh, she’s fat, she’s diabetic!” It sometimes makes me want to crawl up under the covers and not leave the house…

In my heart and my mind, I’m running carefree, walking on the beach without struggles on uneven ground, climbing mountains without worrying about a heart attack, swimming in the ocean or dams without a care in the world, having the serenity of floating carefree without the scariness of climbing into a bathing costume…

One thing that used to make my friends actually stop and think is that I have to Google a restaurant before going to see firstly if I can eat something low carb and secondly, to know if I can sit in the seats. There’s so much I have to think about that other people don’t.

What do you wish people knew about life with obesity?

One of my biggest wishes is that others would know that we don’t need to be told we’re fat, ugly, not appropriate.

If it was so simple to lose weight and maintain it, then everyone would be walking around with a body like Gigi Hadid. Life unfortunately is not so simple. I can’t remember the last time I could financially and physically buy an item of clothing, as there are no shops available that cater for my size, with the styles I like, since Donna Claire closed its doors.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

If I could turn back time and give my 19 year old self a wee bit of advice, I’d say “Rochelle, listen to your body, learn from your mistakes and take back your life by the proverbial horns.”

What would you say to someone in our community who’s struggling with similar issues?

I’m not a doctor, I’m not a professional on diabetes but I am a normal person going through ups and downs and if I can do it, they can do it too.

What makes your life sweet?

Hahaha this makes me giggle… what makes my life sweet…. not in the terms people may think! I love chatting with people and sharing my troubles and triumphs, and after starting my small business Zero Treats I’ve met the most amazing people all doing life, similar to myself. You may ask , what does a 46-year-old have in common with an 8-year-old? Well, I can explain to their mom what it feels like when their child’s sugar drops or rises… That makes me feel humble pie inside and out.

Follow Rochelle on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/zero_yummo

Sharing stories of diabetes and obesity

Thank you for sharing your story, Rochelle!

Would you like to share your story of diabetes and obesity? We need to start telling all the stories of our community, so that we can reduce the stigma. Please email us if you’d like to share!