A small win over Type 2: A Journey of Responsibility and Resilience

Hello there! I hope this message finds you well. Today, I want to let you in on a small yet significant victory in my ongoing journey with type 2 diabetes. I know that many people are struggling with diabetes, so I wanted to share my story with you in the hopes that it will give you hope and inspiration.

But before diving into that, allow me to introduce myself as I think this post might be read by non-software or non-product folks given the subject matter. I am an Agile coach and consultant. As an Agile coach, my role involves assisting teams and organizations to enhance their performance by implementing the theories of Agile, Flow, Lean, and the Theory of Constraints. A significant part of my job also entails understanding the basics of human learning and interaction, thus playing an active role in helping teams improve.

With this background, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in April this year, with an initial Hba1c level of 8.3%. Liver function (AST/ALT) was worse too and it has been going downhill for the last 3–4 years. This unexpected health crisis came as a shock to me, my parents, and my partner. My saving grace during this unsettling period was finding CGM sensor(Continuous Glucose Monitor) through Vively app, which became an invaluable ally in my battle against this disease.

At first, I grappled with Denial, unable to process the reality of my diagnosis. However, as the shock wore off, I began to Lay Blame — on my predominantly carb-rich Indian diet, the lack of physical activity due to working from home, covid lockdowns in Melbourne, and the absence of a continuous exercise regime. The Justify stage followed shortly after, where I rationalized that my diagnosis was simply a result of my lifestyle and genetic factors that are diffciult to change. Next came Obligation, a state where I felt compelled to change but without the necessary empowerment and enthusiasm.

In this unforeseen predicament, I found myself at the precipice of Avery’s The Responsibility Process®, a model that describes the sequence of mental states that individuals typically go through when they encounter a problem. The mental states in The Responsibility Process are Denial, Lay Blame, Justify, Shame, Obligation, and Responsibility, each representing a different way of responding to an issue.

This understanding helped me recognize my natural responses and guided me towards more productive responses. It was an exercise in self-application as Dr. Christopher Avery used to say, “The Responsibility Process works only when self-applied.” Christopher Avery outlines three essential elements, or keys, to practicing and understanding the Responsibility Process. These are Intention, Awareness, and Confront. Each of these keys plays a crucial role in how we navigate through the mental states of the Responsibility Process and ultimately reach a state of Responsibility.

Embracing Personal Responsibility

My next blood test was scheduled for July, and I found myself determined to initiate a positive change. This is when I decided to transition from a state of Obligation to Responsibility. Drawing parallels to my professional role as an Agile coach, I decided to apply the same principles to my personal life. I set a clear intention to embrace the situation fully and confront it with unwavering resolve and purpose. My questions to the dietitian were straightforward & direct- “can I be fully cured, will it be possible for me to get off Metformin (the medication)?” The response was not what I liked to hear but she guided me in making a diet plan.

I made crucial alterations to my diet, acknowledging that the carbohydrate-heavy meals weren’t doing my health any favors. A few books on diet, diabetes got added to my library. To counter the sedentary nature of remote work, I bought a treadmill, ensuring I used it in between meetings to keep my body active. Implementing Avery’s process, I raised my “Awareness” to the direct relationship between my food choices and my health, akin to the way I help teams recognize areas of improvement in their workflow.

My Intention to improve my health situation mirrored the way I guide teams to set goals and achieve them, which compelled me to “Confront” the challenge directly. I persisted despite the odds, and my Hba1c level began to improve as evident from the readings on the app accompanying the CGM sensor. During this journey, I discovered how my blood glucose levels were susceptible to stress, prompting me to cultivate a daily habit of meditation. However, in the early part of July, an unfortunate disagreement with a dear friend resulted in significant emotional turmoil. Despite this setback, I chose to respond with grace and understanding, forgiving him and courageously taking steps to move on.

Utilizing the data available on the Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), I identified the adverse effects emotional disturbances had on my blood glucose levels. Considering the upcoming health assessment in July, I understood the importance of maintaining my emotional equilibrium and promptly decided to leave the past incident behind and move forward.

Staying above the line — The Reward of Responsibility

Last Friday, I went through the process of another blood test. I then conversed with my general practitioner about the findings on July 24th. The standard practice here is to provide the results or reports only after the consultation, which induced a level of apprehension for me as I was unsure about the forthcoming numbers. The only reassurance was the noticeable improvement indicated by the results from the Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) sensor. Waiting in the clinic for these results reminded me of the suspense felt before the announcement of significant examination results, such as IIT JEE or GMAT.

The Doctor was delighted with the progress I had made. My Hba1c had dramatically reduced to a healthy 5%, and my liver function had normalized.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Team Vively. While my Doctor (GP), dietitian, and family provided me with essential support, discovering CGM sensor through Vively app was a game-changer. The data and insights helped me become very clinical with the food choices. The Responsibility Process, often applied in my work as an Agile coach, became an integral part of my health journey, offering me a clear mental pathway to manage my situation effectively. Thanks to my coach & mentor Christopher Avery for introducing me to The Responsibility Process, a few years back. I still remember logging into the call with Dr. Christopher Avery and a cohort at 1:30 AM (Melbourne time) a few years ago to learn about “The Responsibility Process”. I was the only one from Australia joining the cohort (used to run in the US timezone) then, and may be, I was destined to learn and apply “The Responsibility Process” that helped me at this juncture.

Looking back, my story is a testament to the transformative power of The Responsibility Process, even when applied to a personal journey like health. As an Agile coach & consultant, I think I will be drawing inspiration from my personal journey to impart the significance of responsibility and resilience to the teams I coach. After all, be it our health or work, we are our own primary caretakers and drivers of change.

This is still a journey for me, the next steps for me are to have my current regime as sustainable, revisit the clinic for another blood work in November, and learn more about nutrition (looking to enrol in a nutritionist/dietitian course) in the short term. I am aware it is not over yet, and the journey continues.