Isla Henderson says the diet has completely turned things around. (Image: Kennedy)
A young woman, “embarrassed” to be told she had type two diabetes at 21 after downing a 24-pack crate of Pepsi every two days, is now in remission – after starting a nutritionist-recommended diet. Isla Henderson says she was prompted to go to the doctors when she began suffering from extreme thirst, headaches and oversleeping in 2020.
The 27-year-old claims her tests showed she had actually been suffering from Type 2 diabetes [T2D] since the age of 17 but was unaware of it up to this point. After trying to decrease her blood sugar levels on her own over the next few years, 5ft 4in Isla says she felt “isolated” due to being diagnosed so young with the disease. And feeling like she had run out of options, 15st 7lbs Isla decided to sign up for a nutrition and exercise plan to help her out in September 2025.
Isla, 27, (left) has lost lost two-and-a-half stone in nine months. (Image: Kennedy)
The diet consisted of protein smoothies and healthy dinners consisting of just meat and vegetables, such as chicken and mixed vegetables.
She avoided carbohydrates – after noticing they spiked her blood sugars – so she avoided pasta and potatoes. Snacks consisted of low sugar protein yoghurts, boiled eggs and raw pepper or carrot sticks.
She admits she initially wanted to switch up her lifestyle choices so she could feel her best when she walked down the aisle in March next year to marry her fiancée, Shannon, 28.
But miraculously, after just six weeks of following the plan, she claims she also achieved T2D remission, which also helped to dramatically reduce her blood sugar levels.
T2D is a chronic condition where the hormone called insulin does not function properly in the body, which causes the level of glucose [sugar] in your blood to become too high.
This month, research by Imperial College London revealed that rates of young people, particularly young women, being diagnosed with T2D is rising rapidly.
The statistics showed that while new cases of the disease are seen to be falling in older adults, it is increasing quickly in people under 40 years of age.
Researchers from the study say this is increasingly worrying as the longer exposure to the disease can lead to an earlier death and puts you at greater risk of serious complications.
It has been well-documented over the years that obesity is a high-risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
However, this new research suggests that the earlier onset of severe obesity in young people in England is leading to an increased risk of T2D in early life, lowering the age of diagnosis.
Isla feels that her generation’s easy accessibility to processed and fast food is a contributing factor to the increase in T2D among young people, especially women.
She also says the lack of knowledge about nutrition could be another reason for the spike.
Isla is now sharing her journey to T2D remission and urges other young women not to be embarrassed by their diagnosis but instead to reach out for help.
Isla, from Rugby in Warwickshire, said: “I strongly believe that the lack of knowledge around nutrition and not knowing what is good for you is one of the causes for the increase of Type 2 diabetes in young people.
“I think my generation doesn’t always have the knowledge of what is good or not good for your body.
“Being able to grab processed food so easily and sugary drinks in coffee shops is also a reason.
“Fast and processed food is so accessible for us. You don’t even have to leave your house with Uber Eats. Everything is at your fingertips.
“When I found out I had Type 2 diabetes I was so embarrassed and didn’t tell anybody. It’s quite related to, ‘it’s your own fault’. I felt embarrassed because I was so young too.
“There’s no support out there, especially for younger people. I felt quite isolated and not really sure where to turn.
“At a young age like that, without the knowledge of nutrition, I didn’t know how to make it better.
“I was sent away [from the doctors], with a few leaflets, but there are so many mixed messages out there about what you should and shouldn’t do.
“Everyone dreams of looking beautiful in their wedding dress and it’s one of the biggest days of your life. I didn’t want to hate the photos or refuse to have them in the first place.
“I wanted to feel and look my best. My goal when I joined was initially weight loss.
“My sugars were all over the place, but other people couldn’t see this.
“But in two weeks, I had to start reducing my diabetes medication, and then when I had my annual check in October, I was in remission.
“The way that that panned out was not my intention, but because it worked so well, this is why I’m advocating for it.
“When I found out that I was in remission, I cried. I had a blood test last week and my levels are still dropping. It’s overwhelming but in a good way.”
Before losing weight and entering remission, ‘addicted’ Isla used to guzzle down a 24-pack of Pepsi Max every couple of days and pig out on two McDonald’s takeaways a week.
She is now sitting at a size 12 and has lost two-and-a-half stone in nine months, and eats a high-protein diet as well as lots of fruit and veg.
In total, Isla has shed 74cm across her whole body and is now only having to take basic diabetes medication, which helps to protect her organs.
Isla said: “I had bad habits. I was drinking a 24 crate of Pepsi Max every couple of days.
“I wouldn’t drink water or squash, it was always Pepsi Max. I was addicted.
“I never really had breakfast and lunch would be a meal deal or a panini from a cafe. For dinner I would have pasta with no nutrition.
“My usual would be a McDonald’s as it’s quick and easy and I would usually order a large meal, with a side of chicken nuggets and extra bits.
“At my heaviest I was around 20 stone. I felt horrific about myself. I hated what I saw but then because I hated what I saw I would comfort eat. It was a vicious cycle.
“[Now], because I’m building muscle my weight hasn’t changed drastically but my body shape has. I’ve lost 74cm across my whole body.
“I’ve got a waist now, and I’m wearing completely different clothes to what I did before, and I actually like clothes shopping.”
Alongside her day job, Isla is now a trainee wellness coach and has set up a diabetes support group, which is set to have its first meeting next week.
Since entering remission, she is now encouraging other women to reach out and speak to others to ensure they get the help they need if they are also diagnosed with T2D.
Isla said: “I wish that when I was going through, I had someone to speak to. Type 2 diabetes is nothing to be embarrassed about.
“There are a lot of contributing factors such as genetics and other illnesses [that can cause it]. Definitely speak up as it affected my mental health badly and made everything worse for me as I kept it to myself.”
Pepsi have been contacted for comment.
Daily eating before weight loss:
Lunch: Meal deal or panini from cafe
Dinner: large portion of pasta
Snacks: chocolate, crisps, two takeaways a week.
Daily eating after weight loss and type 2 diabetes remission:
Breakfast: Aloe water, an energy tea and a protein smoothie
Lunch: Another protein smoothie
Dinner: High protein dinner with vegetables eg chicken and mixed veg
Snacks: low sugar protein yoghurts, boiled eggs and raw veg sticks (peppers, carrots etc).
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
