After 36 years working as a fitter and machinist for Sydney Ferries, Jeff knows what it means to be steady and reliable. From his workshop on the harbour, he spent decades with the Sydney Harbour Bridge as his backdrop. Now retired and living in Cronulla to be closer to his daughter, the 70-year-old has found a new calling: sharing the message of low carb with anyone who’ll listen.

Jeff’s health challenges piled up in recent years – a knee reconstruction, prostate cancer, half a lung removed, and then two stents put in his heart in 2025. When his GP told him his HbA1c had climbed to 7.2% and that diabetes was “progressive”, he thought there was no way back.

But Jeff wasn’t ready to accept that.

“I’d been enjoying life – beers, pizzas, toast, fried chicken, ham rolls. But when I was told it was progressive, I thought, ‘there has to be another way’. Then I found Defeat Diabetes.

but once I lost the weight, my balance came back. My HbA1c went from 7.2% to 6%, and my blood sugars now sit around 5.2–5.4. My latest LDL cholesterol is 2.5 and things just keep getting better. My general health feels so good now, I’m as happy as Larry!

“The lightbulb moment was learning about insulin resistance and hidden carbs – like in sauces and all ultra-processed foods. It was eye-opening and the support on the Facebook group – these people are like saints, they're always there to help.

“I did start out a bit fast at first I guess; it was a lot of weight to lose in such a small time. In the end I went from 87.5kgs to finally settling now on 71kgs. I reckon keep your daily carb intake below 100g if you can to begin with and then lower it to around 60-80g per day. Then watch and feel the difference. It’s amazing and trust me, there’s so much more to enjoy in life, than pizza or fish & chips!

“I’ve also discovered a low carb beer that doesn’t budge my blood sugars, with just 2.5g of carbs and it tastes great – that was a win.

“I’m President of my local Probus Club, so I’m always sharing what I’ve learned. I tell everyone – get off cereal, get off toast! Also, try and understand and read the info labels of the food you're buying. Don’t buy anything without first checking what’s in it. It’s like cigarettes – they have warning labels, but cans of Coke, BBQ sauce or a bucket of KFC don't and they damn well should!

“With the help of everyone at Defeat Diabetes, the biggest reward has been helping me take back control of my health. These people know what they are talking about. I thought there was no turning back when I was diagnosed, but the pride you feel when you realise you can turn it around without relying on medication alone is incredible.

"The sooner you start, the sooner you can take control of your future.”