How a 53-Year-Old Anesthetist Reclaimed Her Health After 20 Years of Diabetes and Completed the EBC Trek
I Brought My HbA1c Down from 9.5 to 6.1 in 6 months with FFD!
- Name - Dr. Sonali Manohar Ande
- Age - 59 Years Young
- Profession - Anesthetist
- Place - Warud, Maharashtra
Being a doctor, I believed I understood diabetes well. Yet, despite my medical background, I spent nearly two decades living with diabetes, managing symptoms, taking medications, and accepting certain limitations as a part of life.
Today, I am healthier, fitter, mentally stronger, and more aware of my body than ever before. Completing the Everest Base Camp Trek was something I never imagined I would achieve.
This is my journey of rediscovering health through Freedom From Diabetes.
Key Takeaways
- Living with diabetes for 20 years
- Diabetes started after gestational diabetes
- HbA1c reduced from 9.5 to 6.1 in 6 months
- Reduced weight from 56 kg to 48 kg in 4 months
- Improved cholesterol markers
- Experienced better energy and overall well-being
- Developed habits like journaling, meditation, and pranayama
- Completed the Everest Base Camp Trek
- Inspired her daughter to adopt a healthier lifestyle
My Diabetes Story
My journey with diabetes began during pregnancy.
At the age of 34, I developed gestational diabetes. Like many women, I believed it would disappear after childbirth.
However, three years after my son's birth, I was diagnosed with overt diabetes and was started on medication.
However, three years after my son's birth, I was diagnosed with overt diabetes and was started on medication.
What surprised me was that I did not have a strong family history of diabetes.
Apart from a distant ancestral connection, nobody in my immediate family had the condition.
Apart from a distant ancestral connection, nobody in my immediate family had the condition.
Initially, I experienced symptoms like:
- Tingling and numbness
- Muscle aches
- Easy fatigue
- Reduced stamina
But because I was not overweight and worked in the medical field, I never fully connected these symptoms to diabetes.
Over time, diabetes quietly became a part of my life.
How Was FFD Introduced and What Made Me Choose It?
I had watched some of Dr. Pramod Tripathi's educational videos and later attended one of the Discover Reversal Sessions.
What impressed me immediately was the depth of the program.
As a doctor, I have seen countless health programs and wellness trends. Most of them focus only on superficial solutions.
FFD felt different.
The program was evidence-based, structured, and balanced. Every recommendation seemed to have a scientific foundation behind it.
Initially, I thought I would join only for a short period and see how it worked.
But once I entered the program and attended the sessions, I realized how much valuable knowledge it offered not just for patients but even for healthcare professionals like me.
Dr. Sonali Manohar Ande
My Reversal Story
One of the biggest realizations during this journey was that knowing something and practicing it consistently are two different things.
Even though I was aware of many health principles, FFD helped me understand their importance in day-to-day life.
Through the program, I became more disciplined about:
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Recovery
- Stress management
- Lifestyle habits
My cholesterol profile improved significantly, and several health markers moved in the right direction. I saw a significant reduction from 9.5 to 6.1.
My weight was reduced from 56 kg to 48 kg. Later, I consciously regained some healthy weight and muscle mass, stabilizing around 50 kg.
More importantly, I felt healthier.
My energy levels improved, my body felt lighter, and I became much more aware of what my body needed.
Inner Transformation
One of the most valuable parts of my journey was working with the Inner Transformation expert.
I had a one-on-one session with psychologist Paramita, and I was genuinely impressed by the depth of the interaction.
She carefully analyzed my responses, understood my personality traits, and helped me identify areas where I needed to work on myself.
The suggestions were practical, relevant, and insightful.
Since then, I have continued practicing
- Journaling
- Meditation
- Pranayama
- Mindfulness practices
These habits have helped me become calmer, more focused, and emotionally stronger.
The transformation was not only physical it was deeply mental as well.
My Athletic Identity
One of the most defining moments of my FFD journey was completing the Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek.
The trek was far more than a physical challenge.
It was an emotional and mental journey.
Being surrounded by like-minded people who were all working towards better health was incredibly inspiring.
Every step reminded me how far I had come from someone living with diabetes for two decades to someone trekking through the Himalayas.
The experience strengthened my confidence and reinforced my belief that age and diabetes do not have to define what is possible.
Today, trekking has become an important part of my athletic identity, and I look forward to continuing it.
Current Lifestyle & Reflection
Today, I continue to focus on building health every day.
My routine includes:
- Journaling
- Meditation
- Pranayama
- Muscle strengthening exercises
- Regular physical activity
- Conscious eating habits
Looking back, joining Freedom From Diabetes was one of the right things that happened to me at exactly the right time.
The program gave me access to the right people, the right guidance, and the right environment for change.
My dietitian, consultant, exercise expert, and the entire FFD ecosystem made this journey enriching and empowering.
