When Trevor was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it was a defining moment. Like many people, he was prescribed daily metformin to help manage his condition.
He could have stopped there and accepted that medication would be his only path forward. Instead, at 68, Trevor decided he wanted to try to change the course of his health.
Twelve weeks later he was 6.9kgs lighter, his body fat had moved out of the excess range and into the healthy range, and his average glucose had come down to 5.9 mmol/L. Three months after that, he has held onto all of it, and he is reading this, in all likelihood, from Barcelona!
Pictured: Dusk on the European water, lamps just lit, boats at their moorings. Trevor soaking up a golden evening on his 2026 European trip, looking as relaxed and as fabulous as ever!
After 12 weeks on the Program, Trevor was able to achieve the following remarkable changes to his health and composition:
• Trevor lost 6.9kgs, from 90.9kgs to 84kgs — a significant step toward his initial goal of losing 16kgs
• He reduced his body fat by 2.8%, from 25.8% to 23%, bringing it out of the excess range and into the healthy range
• He lowered his visceral fat rating by 2 points, from 15.5 to 13.5, improving his long term health profile
• By week four, his average blood glucose had reduced to 5.9 mmol/L, down from 6.7 mmol/L
• His glycaemic variability fell from 0.7 to 0.4, meaning steadier control through the day with fewer spikes
• His biological age dropped by 5 years, from 58 to 53
• The Program helped him recognise that he had been consistently overeating, even while making what he believed were healthy food choices
• Three months on, he continues to maintain both his weight loss and his improved health markers, tracks his body composition weekly, and has taken up strength training at the gym
Choosing a different path
When Trevor was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and prescribed daily metformin, he decided he did not want medication to be the whole of his answer.
Determined to improve his health, Trevor contacted Phoenix Health Fund, where he was introduced 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 Trevor’s story demonstrates, for all the right reasons.
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
In January 2026, Trevor began 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. Over the next 12 weeks he embraced the Program with determination, completing it in April 2026.
The Diabetes First Program is run over 12 weeks with appointments each week conducted via phone. 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: 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.
Where Trevor started
When Trevor first started the Program, his measurements from the body composition scales showed his biometrics as follows:
|
Biometrics |
Week 1 |
Category |
|
Weight (kgs) |
90.9 |
80+ kgs |
|
Body Fat % |
25.8 |
Excess Fat |
|
Visceral Fat Rating |
15.5 |
Excess Level |
|
Muscle Mass (kgs) |
65.3 |
High Level |
|
Biological Age |
58 |
10 years below 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.
When Trevor first applied his real time glucose monitor, his average blood glucose reading was 6.7 mmol/L — within the elevated band — and the standard deviation of his glycaemic variability was 0.7.
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.
Trevor’s results after 12 weeks
For 12 weeks, Trevor fully embraced the Program, sticking to what the clinical team had recommended, and the results he was able to achieve for his health and glucose levels were impressive.
Pictured: A lane worth the walk! One of Trevor's photos of a lifetime from his 2026 European trip, taken while exploring on foot with the energy and confidence in his health that he built over the 12 weeks of the Program.
After 12 weeks, his final measurements on the body composition scales showed:
|
Biometrics |
Week 1 |
Week 12 |
Difference |
Category |
|
Weight (kgs) |
90.9 |
84 |
-6.9 |
80+ kgs |
|
Body Fat % |
25.8 |
23 |
-2.8 |
Excess Fat → Healthy Level |
|
Visceral Fat Rating |
15.5 |
13.5 |
-2 |
Excess Level |
|
Muscle Mass (kgs) |
65.3 |
62 |
-3.3 |
High Level |
|
Biological Age |
58 |
53 |
-5 |
15 years below chronological age |
Based on the difference in Trevor’s changes, he managed to achieve the following:
• lost 6.9kgs, from 90.9kgs to 84kgs
• reduced his body fat percentage by 2.8%, from 25.8% to 23%, moving out of the excess range and into the healthy range
• dropped his visceral fat rating by 2 points, from 15.5 to 13.5
• reduced his biological age by 5 years, from 58 to 53, leaving him fifteen years below his chronological age
His glucose results over the 4 week continuous glucose monitoring window showed:
|
Measure |
Week 1 |
Week 4 |
Difference |
Category |
|
Average glucose (mmol/L) |
6.7 |
5.9 |
-0.8 |
Elevated → Elevated |
|
Glycaemic variability (SD) |
0.7 |
0.4 |
-0.3 |
Steadier control |
Glucose bands: Normal below 5.5 mmol/L · Elevated 5.5–6.9 mmol/L · Diabetes range 7.0 mmol/L and above. Glycaemic variability is the standard deviation of glucose readings — a lower figure means steadier control and fewer spikes.
Trevor’s average glucose fell within the elevated band, moving closer to the normal range, while his glucose swings narrowed. Studies show that effective blood sugar management can reduce the risk of eye disease, kidney disease and nerve disease.
Learning what “enough” looks like
For Trevor, one of the biggest realisations had nothing to do with the scales.
Although he already believed he was making healthy food choices, the Program helped him recognise that he had been consistently overeating. Learning appropriate portion sizes has helped him feel satisfied, maintain his energy through the day, and reduce the constant cravings he once experienced.
Seeing the impact of what he ate on his glucose levels in real time was, he says, one of the most powerful aspects of the Program — alongside the ongoing encouragement from the nurses, dietitian, credentialled diabetes educator and clinical team.
The weekly check-ins provided accountability, motivation and confidence. Watching numbers like his body fat percentage and visceral fat rating improve week after week reinforced that his hard work was paying off.
The follow-up — July 2026, three months on
Trevor’s success didn’t end when the Program finished. In July 2026, three months after completing the Diabetes First Program, he continues to maintain both his weight loss and his improved health markers.
He has kept tracking his body composition weekly using the scales he opted to keep, and has stayed accountable to the healthy habits he worked so hard to build. He continues to feel healthier and more energetic, regularly attends the gym, and enjoys strength training as part of his new lifestyle.
At the time of writing, Trevor is on an overseas holiday in Barcelona, embracing life with more energy, improved health, and the confidence that comes from having decided to take control of his future.
Pictured: Following Doctors orders to keep hydrated! Trevor raising a glass ... or two on his 2026 European trip! Twelve weeks of hard work, and this is what it was all for — good weather, good company, and the health and energy to enjoy every bit of it.
Why these changes matter
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 — which is why Trevor’s move to regular strength training since finishing the Program matters as much as anything he achieved during it.
Ready to start your own journey?
Trevor’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right support, education and commitment, meaningful and lasting change is possible. His journey through the Diabetes First Program has been about far more than losing weight. It has been about gaining health, and a much greater understanding of how to manage his condition and make the most of the years ahead.
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.