After 1 year on Virta, David went from having uncontrolled diabetes to reversing it.

By David, on Virta for 1 year.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes back in 2006. I grew up watching my dad, uncle, and grandparents having diabetes, so it was nothing new to me. I was still young, and I didn't think my diagnosis was too much of an issue. I was put on metformin and I assumed that my diabetes was under control.

Fast forward to June of 2021 when I went in to get some lab work done. To my surprise and shock, my A1c was 11.1%. Not only was my diabetes not under control, but my blood sugar was at dangerously high levels. I knew I was in big trouble here. I had seen an uncle lose his leg and eventually die because of diabetes complications, and I didn’t want that to be me. I have 2 young sons, and I knew I needed to start prioritizing my health so I could avoid going down that same path.

A few months later, my employer J.B. Hunt sent out an email announcing that Virta was now available as a covered benefit at no additional cost to me. I started watching videos and learning as much as I could about reversing diabetes. By the time I officially started Virta in September, I was full steam ahead. Working with my Virta health coach Denise has been awesome. She’ll reach out to me to give me advice, encourage me, and ask me how I’m feeling. It really helps me stay motivated.

Some of my friends have wondered if I can keep up eating low carb forever, but it’s been easy for me to make my meals Virta-friendly. My wife and I make sure to include low carb options for me during our family meals. For example, if we have a pasta night, I’ll make sure to load up on lots of cheese and Italian sausage meatballs. A lot of my quick meals also include things like avocados, cream cheese, parmesan crisps, and pork rinds. I also like making no-crust pizza by mixing together some cheese and pepperoni and melting it.

It’s been about a year now since I started Virta and I can’t believe the results. My A1c is down 6 points and is now at 5.1%. That not only puts me below the level for type 2 diabetes, but also for prediabetes. It means my blood sugar is officially at healthy levels. I’m also down about 50 pounds and I’ve had to purchase a completely new wardrobe. I’m off all the medications I was taking before I started Virta (including metformin, Jardiance, and cholesterol medications) and am now saving about $80/month.

I’m feeling fantastic and I’ve been enjoying spending time outdoors biking and hiking with my boys. Before starting Virta, I had a hard time keeping up with them, but now they’re having a hard time keeping up with me! Virta’s treatment has been a lifesaver. I tell my J.B. Hunt coworkers all the time that Virta is worth it. Don’t assume your diabetes is under control like I did. My life is back on track now and I’m looking forward to many more years with my family.