Chloe was 42. She was a healthy weight, her visceral fat was in the healthy range, and she had no signs or symptoms and no diagnosis. She was also, without knowing it, living with Type 2 diabetes.
Chloe's personal journey on the Diabetes First Program stands as proof that without intervention, years could have passed quietly, making the condition considerably harder to manage by the time anyone found it. Chloe understood better than most what those years can cost. Both of her parents were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and her father passed away at 68 from complications of the condition.
Instead, Chloe found out at 42. Her story is a powerful reminder of how much difference catching something early can make.
After 12 weeks on the Program, Chloe was able to achieve the following remarkable changes to her health and composition:
• Chloe came to the Program undiagnosed — she was not overweight, her visceral fat was in the healthy range, and she had no signs or symptoms of Type 2 diabetes
• Her initial body composition results and her continuous glucose monitor reading of 7.6 mmol/L average glucose prompted further review and led to a formal diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes by her treating GP
• Her glycaemic variability fell by 68% in the first 4 weeks, from 2.2 to 0.7, meaning her blood sugar went from swinging sharply through the day to staying steady, with far fewer of the spikes that drive the long-term damage of diabetes
• She reduced her average glucose by 0.5 mmol/L over the 4 week monitoring window, from 7.6 to 7.1 mmol/L
• She reduced her body fat by 3% (from 38% to 35%), dropped her visceral fat rating by 1 (from 6 to 5, remaining in the healthy range) and dropped her overall weight by 5kgs (from 64kgs to 59kgs)
• Her biological age dropped by 13 years, from 56 to 43
• A follow-up blood test after the Program recorded an HbA1c of 5.3% — within the normal, non-diabetic range
• In consultation with her treating GP following completion of the Program, Chloe did not need to commence the medication she had been prescribed — the outcome she set out to achieve
• The real time continuous glucose monitor showed her exactly which foods caused her glucose to spike, allowing her to make dietary changes she can sustain long term
A result that was impossible to ignore
Weeks before commencing the Diabetes First Program, on 25 February 2026, Chloe had a glucose tolerance test that returned the following results:
|
Glucose tolerance test — 25/2/2026 |
Result |
|
Fasting (0 minutes) |
6.5 mmol/L |
|
60 minutes |
16.1 mmol/L |
|
120 minutes |
13.1 mmol/L |
A 2-hour reading at or above 11.1 mmol/L is diagnostic of diabetes. Chloe’s 120-minute result of 13.1 mmol/L was consistent with Type 2 diabetes.
The risk was close to home. Both of Chloe’s parents were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and her father passed away at 68 from complications related to the condition. Although Chloe herself had not been formally diagnosed at that point, that result was enough to prompt her to act. She reached out to Phoenix Health Fund, who introduced her to the Doctor’s Kitchen Diabetes First Program.
Phoenix Health Fund uniquely and actively supports the health of their members at risk of or suffering from Type 2 Diabetes by offering the Diabetes First Program on a fully funded basis to eligible members.
Phoenix Health Fund is the first health fund in Australia to provide this unique support to eligible members, and as Chloe’s story demonstrates, for all the right reasons.
Chloe chose the Program because it brought all the essential elements of care together under one umbrella — a credentialled diabetes educator, dietitian, nurse and GP — so she didn’t have to feel overwhelmed finding and funding each practitioner separately.
The Program is designed to support any current Type 2 Diabetes care and includes:
• helping you understand your Type 2 Diabetes and the impacts of what you eat and drink on your glucose levels
• giving you real tools to help manage your condition including a real time continuous glucose monitor, body composition scales and calorie controlled meals aiming to help reduce your blood glucose levels
• discussing the importance of nutrition and glucose levels
• helping keep you active and caring for yourself and your Type 2 Diabetes long-term
Starting on the Level 1 Program
Because Chloe had not been formally diagnosed, she was initially placed on the Level 1 (Pre-Diabetes) Program, which is suitable for those who have not been diagnosed but are at risk.
On receiving her welcome pack, Chloe entered her first set of body composition measurements and began wearing the real time continuous glucose monitor, which recorded several days of her average blood glucose ahead of her Doctor's consultation.
Pictured: The Dexcom continuous glucose monitor is used as part of the 12 week Diabetes First Program which provides real time glucose data allowing individuals to see their current levels at any time and helps with informed lifestyle choices as it shows how different factors such as food, activity and stress can affect glucose levels over time.
When Chloe first started the Program, her measurements from the Tanita body composition scales showed her biometrics as follows:
|
Biometrics |
Week 1 |
Category |
|
Weight (kgs) |
64 |
60–80kgs |
|
Body Fat % |
38 |
Excess Fat |
|
Visceral Fat Rating |
6 |
Healthy Level |
|
Muscle Mass (kgs) |
37.4 |
Low Level |
|
Biological Age |
56 |
14 years above chronological age |
Pictured: As part of the 12 week program, individuals receive a set of body composition scales which provide an understanding of important biometrics like body fat %, muscle mass (kgs), visceral fat rating and basal metabolic rate and are used each week to help track progress and understand overall health. These scales are on loan for the duration of the program.
When Chloe first applied her real time glucose monitor, her average blood glucose reading was 7.6 mmol/L and the standard deviation of her glycaemic variability was 2.2.
Glycaemic variability refers to the fluctuations in blood glucose levels throughout the day, ranging from high peaks (high blood sugar, hyperglycaemia) to low troughs (low blood sugar, hypoglycaemia). It is a measure of blood sugar instability, and high variability is common in people with diabetes and is associated with an increased risk of health complications. So the lower the glycaemic variability, research suggests the less risk that patients have for complications like diabetic neuropathy and cognitive impairment.
What the initial consultation found
At her consultation, the Doctor reviewed her body composition results, her average glucose reading from the continuous glucose monitor, and the results of her glucose tolerance test. Those results showed:
• Chloe was not carrying excess weight and was not overweight
• Her visceral fat rating was 6 — the middle of the healthy range — indicating no excess visceral fat
• But her glucose tolerance test placed her in the diabetic range, with a diagnostic 2-hour reading of 13.1 mmol/L, and her average glucose reading from the continuous glucose monitor was 7.6 mmol/L, also within the diabetic range
On the surface, Chloe looked like someone with nothing to worry about. Her glucose data told a completely different story.
Diagnosis confirmed
The Doctor consulted with an endocrinologist and with Chloe’s treating GP in Victoria, and advised Chloe to return to her GP to discuss the results identified at this stage of the Program before progressing any further.
Chloe returned to her treating GP, who formally diagnosed her with Type 2 diabetes and recommended she begin metformin immediately.
Understandably shocked, Chloe was determined to see whether the intervention through the Diabetes First Program could improve her glucose enough that she would not need to start the medication. Her program was changed to the Level 2 Program — which includes consultations with a credentialled diabetes educator as well as a dietitian, complemented by 4 weeks of real time continuous glucose monitoring and 12 weeks of body composition monitoring — and she began.
The Diabetes First Program is run over 12 weeks with appointments each week conducted via phone or video. The Level 2 Program starts with a welcome assessment with a Doctor’s Kitchen nurse to understand any health challenges as well as health and wellbeing goals. This is followed by 12 weeks of consultations with either a Doctor, dietitian, credentialled diabetes educator, nurse or clinical team member.
Pictured: Georgie Muller, registered nurse, who was instrumental in helping Chloe achieve the changes she did to her composition and health during the 12 week Diabetes First Program.
Chloe’s results after 12 weeks
For 12 weeks, Chloe fully embraced the Program and the results she was able to achieve for her health and glucose levels were impressive.
After 12 weeks, her final measurements on the body composition scales showed:
|
Biometrics |
Week 1 |
Week 12 |
Difference |
Category |
|
Weight (kgs) |
64 |
59 |
-5 |
60–80kgs → 40–60kgs |
|
Body Fat % |
38 |
35 |
-3 |
Excess Fat |
|
Visceral Fat Rating |
6 |
5 |
-1 |
Healthy Level |
|
Muscle Mass (kgs) |
37.4 |
37 |
-0.4 |
Low Level |
|
Biological Age |
56 |
43 |
-13 |
Now below chronological age |
Based on the difference in Chloe’s changes, she managed to achieve the following:
• reduced her body fat percentage by 3%, from 38% to 35%
• dropped her visceral fat rating by 1, from 6 to 5, remaining within the healthy range
• dropped her overall weight by 5kgs, from 64kgs to 59kgs
• reduced her biological age by 13 years, from 56 to 43
Her glucose results over the 4 week continuous glucose monitoring window showed:
|
Measure |
Week 1 |
Week 4 |
Difference |
Category |
|
Average glucose (mmol/L) |
7.6 |
7.1 |
-0.5 |
Diabetes range → Diabetes range |
|
Glycaemic variability (SD) |
2.2 |
0.7 |
-1.5 |
68% reduction |
Glucose bands: Normal below 5.5 mmol/L · Elevated 5.5–6.9 mmol/L · Diabetes range 7.0 mmol/L and above.
At the end of the 4 week monitoring window Chloe’s average glucose remained within the diabetic range, but the drop in her glycaemic variability was dramatic. Falling from 2.2 to 0.7 meant her blood sugar had gone from swinging sharply through the day to staying steady, with far fewer of the spikes that drive the long-term damage of diabetes. Studies show that effective blood sugar management can reduce the risk of eye disease, kidney disease and nerve disease.
The follow-up — June 2026
The improvement continued in the months that followed the Program.
A follow-up blood test on 29 June 2026 recorded an HbA1c of 5.3% — within the normal, non-diabetic range. HbA1c is a laboratory blood test reflecting average glucose over the prior 2–3 months, where below 5.7% is the normal, non-diabetic range and 6.5% or above indicates diabetes.
In consultation with her treating GP, Chloe was advised that she was no longer in the diabetic range, and that she no longer needed the medication she had initially been prescribed. It was the outcome she had set out to achieve.
Chloe’s three key measures tell the story:
|
Measure |
Date |
Result |
|
|
Glucose tolerance test (2-hour) |
25 Feb 2026 |
13.1 mmol/L |
diagnostic of diabetes |
|
Average glucose (CGM, end of monitoring) |
Week 4, Apr 2026 |
7.1 mmol/L |
diabetes range |
|
HbA1c blood test |
29 Jun 2026 |
5.3% |
normal, non-diabetic range |
Chloe caught her condition early and addressed it before ever starting medication, despite a family history of Type 2 diabetes on both sides. She feels healthier, and is pleased to have made these changes at the right moment.
Real time monitoring through the continuous glucose monitor allowed her to understand exactly which foods caused her glucose to spike, enabling meaningful dietary changes she can sustain for long term diabetes management. Support from a preventative-focused GP, together with weekly consultations with a credentialled diabetes educator, nurse, dietitian or clinical team member, helped her understand the changes she needed to make and kept her motivated and on track through the Program.
Through her credentialled diabetes educator, Chloe was also connected with supporting organisations to continue her management beyond the Program, including ongoing continuous glucose monitoring.
Why early intervention matters
Losing body fat, especially visceral fat, offers health benefits for people with Type 2 diabetes. Studies show that visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs, contributes to insulin resistance, making it harder for the body to manage blood sugar levels. By reducing this type of fat, research shows that insulin sensitivity improves, which can lead to lower blood glucose and HbA1c levels.
Research also shows that shedding excess fat supports better cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and that even a modest 5–7% of fat loss can lead to measurable improvements, making fat loss a key strategy in managing Type 2 diabetes.
The Diabetes First Program is focused on helping individuals make sustainable changes to their health by losing body fat and visceral fat (rather than overall weight) and maintaining muscle for long term health.
Without this intervention, Chloe may never have known she had Type 2 diabetes and years could have passed, making the condition considerably harder to manage.
Chloe’s case is perhaps the clearest illustration of what early intervention can achieve. She was a healthy weight, had healthy visceral fat, no signs or symptoms, and no diagnosis. It took the intervention of the Diabetes First Program to reveal the Type 2 diabetes already present, and to begin treating it years before it would otherwise have surfaced.
Ready to start your own journey?
Chloe’s story stands as proof that with the right tools, guidance and support, people at risk of or living with Type 2 Diabetes can make meaningful changes to their health. This is a testament to the support that Phoenix Health Fund provides to its members who are eligible for this Program, and also to the commitment that individuals put into making changes to their health and life.
If you are at risk of Type 2 Diabetes, or have been diagnosed, the Doctor’s Kitchen Australia’s Diabetes First Program might be your next best step, remembering that results will be different for each individual.