Jane and Mark grew up together in Bundaberg, Queensland. They went to the same primary and secondary schools, and no one was surprised when they married in 1990. With a long family history of type 2 diabetes, Mark had lived with pre-diabetes for a few years before a medical emergency revealed he’d developed full-blown type 2 diabetes with an HbA1c of 11.3. Prescribed a smorgasbord of medications and living in pain, Mark was miserable - until one doctor recommended a treatment that changed the course of his life.

“I never thought too much about diabetes. On my mum’s side, I can’t think of a single relative who doesn’t have type 2—but I figured it was just one of those things. So, when I developed pre-diabetes, I kind of shrugged it off as inevitable and nothing much to worry about.

“Then, in 2017, I had a heart attack. I was playing golf when I suddenly felt sick. At first, I thought it was indigestion, but then I knew something wasn’t right. The hospital ran a battery of tests, and one of the results showed that I now had type 2 diabetes. My GP had always said, “We’ll put you on meds when we need to.” Well, that time had come.

“Suddenly, I was on tablets for everything—cholesterol, diabetes, blood thinners, beta-blockers. I felt like I’d lost faith in my body.

“Things worsened in 2024 when I had a brutal bout of kidney stones. Jane was distraught, seeing me in such agony. But my urologist, Dr Andrew Hadley, barely spoke about my kidneys. Instead, he talked about my type 2 diabetes: the medications needed to control it and how they could worsen the kidney stones.

He mentioned an Australian program called Defeat Diabetes, run by an incredible doctor, Dr Peter Brukner, that could help me manage my blood glucose without medications.

“That conversation changed everything. My wife Jane, who had felt so helpless when I was experiencing kidney stones, now had something to seize onto with both hands. She started Googling, found Defeat Diabetes, bought the books and signed us up for the program. She devoured the lessons like she used to eat Cadbury chocolate! By lesson three, she was in front of the pantry, throwing out every high-carb food we owned. I came home to an almost empty fridge—and a completely new mindset.

“We’d dabbled in Atkins years ago, and I’d seen some results, but it always felt a bit “fringe.” This time was different. The science made sense. The success stories were real. It wasn’t some extreme diet—it was just eating real, everyday food in a way that made my body work better. What impressed me most was the number of people in remission who had stopped or reduced their meds by following the Defeat Diabetes Program. 

“We jumped in 100%. Within weeks, I started noticing changes. My energy skyrocketed. I wasn’t hungry all the time, so I naturally fell into eating two meals a day.

“And then, within a matter of months of following the program, the numbers spoke for themselves: my blood sugar levels normalised. My XXL shirts were replaced by size medium. I hadn’t been this weight since playing footy in my 20s! Even the small things changed—no more aching joints, no more groaning when I bent down, and even my body odour became more neutral.

Best of all? I was able to stop taking my diabetes meds. Something I’d always assumed was permanent turned out to be completely within my control.

“People always ask, “What do you eat?” The truth is, we eat great food. Shepherd’s Pie is a favourite—people go nuts for it! When we travel, it’s now simpler. No need to plan lunches; we just focus on breakfast and dinner. Bacon and eggs with homemade sausage, a burger without the bun and some lamb chops are easy. We only shop around the outside aisles of the supermarket now, skipping the processed junk in the middle, so we’re in and out in minutes! 

“I snack on cheese if needed and drink black coffee with a splash of milk. Jane will pick and mix new recipes from the Defeat Diabetes meal plans with recipes she creates. She understands the principles of low carb eating, and we both enjoy the variety and new tastes - it keeps us going. I don’t ever feel restricted—I feel free. I don’t have to rely on medications or constant GP visits. I’m in control.

“Jane’s cousin, who was prediabetic, joined Defeat Diabetes after hearing about my success. His sugar levels dropped, he lost weight, and now he’s telling his brother. That’s how powerful this is. 

“Jane and I have been together for 44 years. Jane has lost her parents and her brother, but she has me—and this program has given us the opportunity for a longer, healthier life together. We were in the right place at the right time, and we count ourselves incredibly lucky to have found Defeat Diabetes.”