Dear Joseph,

Life is good right now. At 27, you are working in your dream job as an architect and you are surrounded by good family and friends.

You are enjoying life by eating whatever you want. Fried chicken or fish and a can of soft drink at the café for lunch.

Soon, you find yourself not exercising like you use to, instead you are sitting in an office for 12 hours a day. Making healthy eating choices are the last thing on your mind. But it shouldn’t be.

The weight will creep on.

Soon your life will be upended. An application for life insurance will reveal a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

You will be in shock, but not surprised. There is strong family history of diabetes, your mum and four aunts and uncles lived with diabetes.

Perhaps you should have known better, but here you are.

The diagnosis will transform your lifestyle, you will start to eat well and be more active.

But there will be some unexpected and lifelong complications with diabetes. Eleven cardiac stents, low kidney function and eye problems.

For now, you have the power to change the course of your life. Make a healthy life your priority.

It will be worth it in the end.

Trust me.

Regards,

Joseph