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March 27, 2025 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes: What’s the Real Difference?

Have you ever wondered if there’s a real difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? Maybe you’ve heard the terms tossed around but never really got the full picture. You’re not alone! Diabetes is often misunderstood, but knowing the difference between the two types could be a game-changer—for yourself or someone you care about.

So, let’s break it down in a simple, no-jargon way—because understanding your health shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle.

What Exactly Is Diabetes?

Imagine this: your body runs on glucose (sugar) for energy, like a car runs on fuel. To get that fuel into your cells, your body uses a key—insulin—produced by your pancreas. But when that key either doesn’t exist or doesn’t work properly, glucose stays in your bloodstream, causing blood sugar to rise. That’s diabetes in a nutshell.

Let’s Meet Type 1 Diabetes: Autoimmune & Unexpected

Think of Type 1 as your immune system going rogue—mistaking your healthy insulin-producing cells for enemies and attacking them. As a result, your body stops making insulin altogether.

Who Gets It?

It often shows up in children or young adults, but it can surprise anyone at any age. It’s not caused by lifestyle, and you can’t prevent it.

Signs to Look For:

⚡ Constant thirst
⚡ Frequent urination
⚡ Sudden weight loss
⚡ Fatigue
⚡ Blurred vision

Treatment?

Insulin for life—via injections or a pump. And with proper care, people with Type 1 diabetes can live full, vibrant lives.

Type 2 Diabetes: The Lifestyle-Linked One

Now, Type 2 is more like your cells ignoring the key. Your body still makes insulin, but your cells don’t respond properly—a condition called insulin resistance.

Who’s at Risk?

Mostly adults over 40, but it’s becoming common in younger people due to poor diet, lack of exercise, and weight gain.

What You Might Notice:

⚠️ Tiredness
⚠️ Slow-healing cuts
⚠️ Tingling in hands/feet
⚠️ Frequent infections
⚠️ Subtle weight gain

Treatment?

  • Lifestyle changes: diet + exercise
  • Medication (e.g., Metformin)
  • Insulin (in later stages for some)

Here’s the good news: Type 2 is often preventable and reversible with the right lifestyle tweaks.

Quick Comparison: Type 1 vs Type 2

Feature

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Cause

Autoimmune destruction

Insulin resistance

Onset Age

Usually younger people

Usually 40+, but now younger

Insulin Production

None

Reduced/ineffective

Treatment

Insulin only

Lifestyle, meds ± insulin

Preventable?

No

Often, yes

Onset Speed

Sudden

Gradual

Can You Prevent or Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?

Absolutely.
Here’s how you can stay ahead:

  • Eat balanced, whole foods
  • Stay active—150 minutes a week does wonders
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Sleep well, stress less
  • Get regular health check-ups

Remember: small steps today can lead to big wins tomorrow.

Understanding the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes helps you make better choices and support others on their health journey. Whether you’re managing the condition or simply staying informed, awareness is your superpower.

💬 Have tips or a personal experience with diabetes? Share it in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

December 7, 2024 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Devesh Srivastava Lowers His HbA1c from 6.7 to 5.8 With GOQii

Devesh SrivastavaHave you ever suffered from a cold or fever and thought to yourself that you can manage this? In fact, there’s a good chance that with some medication and rest, the symptoms of a cold or fever have subsided. But, when you deal with issues such as Diabetes and Hypertension, trying to manage the issue on your own might not be such a good idea. Our Player Devesh Srivastava came to realize that personalized health coaching is the best way forward!

Life Before Joining GOQii 

Devesh Srivastava is a 52 year old investment banker residing in the city of Ahmedabad. He was always keen on joining an app-based fitness solution. Back in 2014, he heard our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal speak at an event. He says, “What he said connected well with me and I was looking forward to joining something like GOQii, but it never happened”.

While he did have a normal routine, he wanted someone to look over him and guide him towards a healthy lifestyle. He says, “Before the pandemic, things were manageable but during the pandemic, the situation was difficult as you were at home the whole time. Earlier I would walk with my friends and colleagues but then it all stopped during the lockdown. I did not have a proper routine and that created a weight issue”. 

During this time, Devesh Srivastava tried creating his own regime and restricted his diet to reduce weight. “I’ve seen other people reduce weight by doing their own things. So I decided to try as well. But, my sugar levels were not reducing,” he said. He was also on Diabetes and Hypertension medication. 

Joining GOQii and Making Lifestyle Changes 

After several trials and errors of trying to manage his health by himself, Devesh Srivastava said that he needed someone to keep a watch on his health and guide him properly. So, he came to the decision to subscribe for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching in November 2021. 

“The coach’s guidance worked well for me. She made simple and doable changes,” he says. Some of these changes included: 

  • Have soaked Methi seeds in the morning
  • Increase salad portion before lunch and consume fruits as mid-meal snacks 
  • Eat healthy evening snacks which include dry fruits, fruits or roasted snacks.
  • Eating an early dinner
  • Reduce carbs from dinner and replace them with fiber and protein
  • Drink green tea in the evening 
  • Begin the day with Surya Namaskar 
  • Increase steps count gradually

Apart from the above changes, his GOQii Coach kept a close watch on his food consumption, water intake, sleep and exercise, making timely corrections as per requirements. 

What Changes Did Devesh Srivastava Experience? 

Within 4 months, Devesh could experience changes in his health. As his journey continued, within 7 months he was able to lose approximately 7kg. From 80kg, he came down to 74.6kg. His waist size had reduced from 36 inches to 34 inches. 

In his current report, he found that his blood sugar and cholesterol levels had lowered down. “With Coaching, I feel better,” he says. “My stress levels are better managed. I am also able to sleep well for at least 6.5 hours daily,” he added.

What Does Coach Sakshi Agarwal Have To Say About Her Player? 

When he came onboard, he was overweight. His height is 170cm and weight was 80kg. His waist size was 36 inches and his BMI was 27.7. He was suffering from Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. His Triglyceride was also high at about 180.

Fortunately, Devesh Srivastava is a very sincere player and was always enthusiastic about taking on all the challenges I threw at him. He tried his absolute best to complete them. Within 4 months, he has made remarkable progress. 

Apart from reducing his weight and waist size, his blood sugar and cholesterol levels have also reduced. His HbA1c reduced from 6.7 to 5.8. His Triglyceride levels reduced from 180 to 148. His Blood Pressure reduced from 97fbs – 135pp to 85fbs – 119pp. 

He is quite happy with these transformations and I appreciate his positive response to my suggestions as well as his  dedicated approach to improving his lifestyle! 

Do you have a condition similar to Devesh Srivastava? You too can make a positive lifestyle change by getting the right guidance and motivation from certified experts. Join the GOQii Diabetes Care program – India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), reduce HbA1c levels and let you win gold! You can subscribe here: https://store.goqii.com/diabetescare.

For more inspiring Health Stories, check out Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce 

November 16, 2024 By Dr Akshat Chadha 1 Comment

Busting Myths Related To Diabetes Reversal

diabetes reversalYou may have often come across the term ‘Diabetes Reversal’. But can the condition actually be ‘reversed’? “The word ‘reversal’ is a misnomer, as the dictionary defines it as a change in an opposite direction, position, or course of action or back to a former state. Of late, this seems to be used very loosely next to diabetes, and that’s not an accurate way to look at it.

Why is it not accurate? That is because ‘diabetes reversal’ would mean that the medicines are stopped, and the person no longer suffers from the disease. But, this scenario is seldom seen in practice for many patients. Yes, few patients — like the ones with prediabetes are able to ‘reverse’ their conditions for a longer period of time (if they are able to maintain a good lifestyle) but those with chronic, long-standing diabetes, find it difficult to even sustain the reduced medications.

The word ‘reversal’ may actually only mean better control and management to begin with, then slowly tapering off medicines, to finally try and take them off with further work aimed at a situation where you do not go back to medications. If a patient can sustain this state of no medicines with the blood reports staying within the normal limits for five years, then probably we can say that diabetes (Type 2) has been reversed.

Common Myths Surrounding Diabetes Reversal 

Myth #1: Type 2 diabetes reversal is easy and can be achieved in 6-8 weeks by joining a program.

Fact: This one is actually a pretty funny and dangerous myth. I would think it’s impossible to believe something like this. But, people do believe it as they tend to get desperate to get rid of the condition and hence, go to any extent where they see a ray of hope, which makes it dangerous. Fad diets or even strict diets can show the blood reports getting better along with a reduction in weight (4-5 kgs every month). But, this drastic change can cause other issues later in life including chronic deficiencies.

While on the program, the patients are also taken off the medicines (since the blood reports look better) but once the program ends, and those who aren’t able to sustain the changes, the sugar starts to increase and this time with a vengeance. Some even end up rushing back to their original doctors who understandably get upset as they fear the damage caused and invariably have to increase medication. Thus, the patient suffers the most at multiple levels and what starts as a ray of hope for the patient ends up being a ray of destruction.

Myth #2: Cut out carbs, fruits and sugar and you will reverse Type 2 diabetes

no sugar diabetes reversal

Fact: The patient will definitely get the numbers down initially, at least on paper. But, apart from the nutritional benefits that they will miss out on, it’s very unlikely that diabetes reversal will be achieved.

I want to help you all understand that the major source of the problem such as inflammation or insulin resistance is the refined carbohydrates and sugar that are present in cakes, pastries, sodas and even packaged foods. Grains and fruits can increase the sugars but it varies from person to person. If they are balanced with fiber, proteins and fats, then you will be surprised to know how well the sugars are regulated. We have a tendency of eating 5-6 chapatis (Indian flatbread) or a big portion of rice with just a touch of vegetables (sometimes the quantity is even lesser than pickle) and sometimes no dals (lentils) or beans or even curd. So, instead of going extreme and cutting down everything (which again becomes difficult to sustain), look at including a balanced meal as you will not only have better blood sugar but also improve your overall health.

Myth #3: Do fasting and you will reverse diabetes

Fact: This one is really doing the rounds. This might not be a myth but rather an exaggeration. It makes sense to fast as you will end up consuming lesser food (>12hrs – you mostly will end up missing one major meal). Initially, one will witness weight loss and the gut along with the pancreas will get some relaxation during the fasting period. Fasting is an age-old practice and does have benefits if done the ‘right way’. It’s however important to know what’s the right way to fast.

The answer to this question is that it varies from diabetic to diabetic and also depends on the co-morbid conditions, current medications, insulin and how much the blood sugar fluctuates. Of course, eating 2kg of fruits or eating “anything and everything” during the eating window isn’t going to work, so such behaviour is not encouraged. Also, if you are continuously fasting for weeks or months together, then be careful about muscle health, gut health and even your metabolism as all of these can take a slight dip. Fasting when used as one of the tools for better diabetes management under the right guidance should help in the overall improvement of the patient’s health.

Myth #4: I will not be able to reduce medicines or get off them because I have a family history of diabetes.

family history diabetes reversalFact: Family history, especially if both parents have diabetes, does play a big role in making a person predisposed to diabetes. But it’s not the only factor that triggers diabetes. It’s, in fact, your lifestyle, your daily habits repeated over a period of time that finally leads you to diabetes. So, in the same way, you might have to be more particular and take better care of yourself. If done consistently, one can hope to see the medicines reduced, in spite of the family history.

Of course, prevention or postponement is better than reversal so if people can start following a healthier sustainable lifestyle then they can keep diabetes away for a longer time or even if they get it, they can manage it with minimum medicines. Better control can also help to reduce chances of the complications.

Myth #5: If I start medicines or insulin, I will never be able to reverse the diabetes

Fact: I feel this is one myth that should be broken as soon as possible. Many times starting medication or insulin earlier can actually help you conserve the beta-cell function (cells in the pancreas that produce insulin), further increasing your chances of getting off the medicine sooner provided you have made the lifestyle changes simultaneously. If the patient refuses to make basic changes like eating better, getting regular exercise, sleeping and managing stress better, then the medicine will also not get the desired support and that can further lead to an increase in the medicines.

So it’s time the diabetics reset their mindset. Stop doubting every doctor or medicine and take responsibility for your health by making the right changes so that diabetes reversal can become an easier reality in the coming years.

Myth #6: Type 1 diabetes can be reversed

Fact: Simply put, not yet. If anyone at this point is claiming or promising reversal of Type 1 diabetes, then that’s far from the truth. There’s a lot of work and research going on in this field but nothing conclusive has been shown. I do feel and hope that it’s a matter of time and in this interim, we all need to build up our patience and instead work on the information that we have and at least better manage type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes doesn’t stop a patient from doing anything or living a good life, so if you have that worry or fear, it’s a good time to start changing it.

To summarize, diabetes reversal (the real one as I have mentioned above) is possible if the question on reversal is generic. But, we now need to ask the question differently – can I reverse my diabetes? If not then can I live healthy, fearlessly with diabetes – and the answer will always be a big yes!

We hope this article helps you! For more on Diabetes, check out Healthy Reads.

For further guidance and motivation by certified experts, join the GOQii Diabetes Care program. It’s India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), reduce HbA1c levels and let you win gold! You can subscribe here: https://store.goqii.com/diabetescare.

#BeTheForce 

August 12, 2023 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Reducing HbA1c from 7.2 to 6.1 | Ram Sharma Health Story

Ram Sharma - GOQii Diabetes Care

There’s nothing sweet about diabetes and we’re all well aware about that. Factors such as a poor diet, obesity, lack of exercise, improper sleeping patterns, stress and advancing age can cause diabetes. While it might seem overwhelming, diabetes is not an insurmountable affair. With proper self-care, guidance and a few lifestyle modifications, you can manage diabetes effectively like our Player Ram Sharma. Want to know how he reduced his HbA1c levels from 7.2 to 6.1? Let’s see how he did it! 

Before Joining GOQii 

Ram Sharma is a 47 year old working individual originally hailing from Rajasthan. As a part of a routine medical check-up by the company in 2022, he was shocked to find out that he had high sugar levels. His HbA1c levels were at 7.2 and he weighed around 97kg.

When he analyzed his health parameters, he was aware that his lifestyle had to change considering that he had, so far, lived a more or less sedentary lifestyle marred by stress and unhealthy eating habits. His consulting doctor had also put him on medication to control his sugar levels.  

He began looking at a few health programs that would help him. His friends suggested he get a smartwatch, and after a good bit of research, he zeroed in on GOQii as it also had an assisted program. He decided to go ahead with the GOQii Diabetes Care Program – which essentially helps people manage diabetes and take ownership of their health with guidance from certified experts and doctors. 

Making Lifestyle Changes with the GOQii Diabetes Care Program 

Once onboard in February 2022, Ram Sharma’s goal was to reduce his HbA1c levels and lose weight. His GOQii Coach Sweta Jaiswal began suggesting simple changes which included gradually increasing his step count and managing his diet through proper nutrition.

“In February, he started with a goal of 3k and slowly increased the step count to 5k. Simultaneously, he also started going to the gym to exercise,” says his coach, Sweta. 

Once he began interacting with his coach on a daily basis, he became more aware of what his actual weight should be. He then began asking his coach for ways to achieve his health goals. He followed all the instructions given by Coach Sweta Jaiswal and logged all his food and activities in the GOQii App.

While he followed all his coach’s instructions, one issue he still faces is eating his food on time. “Food timings are a bit off due to his hectic work schedule, but he is trying to maintain it as best he can, and has started meditation to make sure his day begins nicely,” says coach Sweta.

How Did These Changes Affect Ram Sharma? 

As of now, the combination of walking and strength training has helped Ram Sharma reduce his weight from 97kg to 82kg. On average, he clocks in 15K steps a day. As a result of his efforts, his adherence to his coach’s suggestions, and his dedication, he managed to reduce his HbA1c levels from 7.2 to 6.1. What’s amazing is that he has stopped all his medication and feels better too. “It’s because of GOQii that I am free of all medications and living a happy and healthy life,” he says. 

He further added, “I had a paunch, and now I am slim and trim, and people around me cannot believe it and ask me how I managed to do this. Here is when I suggest GOQii to family and friends.”

Currently, he walks 3-4 km a day, works out regularly, and has made a very healthy switch in his life with the guidance and motivation of his GOQii Coach. You can learn more about his journey as he speaks to our Founder and CEO, Vishal Gondal, on an episode of GOQii Health Stories here. 

Ram Sharma has been an elite player for the past 404 days. He has also upgraded to the Insure+ Program and has renewed his Diabetes Care Program subscription for 1 year in May 2023. 

Know someone with Diabetes who might need help? Share this article with them or ask them to check out GOQii’s Diabetes Care Program – India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), and reduce HbA1c levels.

Find more inspiring health stories here. 

#BeTheForce 

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Devesh Srivastava

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Have you ever suffered from a cold or fever and thought to yourself that you can manage this? In fact, there’s a good chance that with some medication and rest, the symptoms of a cold or fever have subsided. But, when you deal with issues such as Diabetes and Hypertension, trying to manage the issue […]

Dhiren Matani - Healthy lifestyle

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