I'm a teacher in Japan, an nlp practitioner, and a storyteller.  Once upon a time, well back four years ago, I weighed 305 pounds and I was diagnosed diabetes 2 (A1c=12.8).  I dieted low carb and pool walked for six months and lost 50 pounds(A1c=5.3), then I had a bariatric surgery in Brazil (biliopancreatic diversion with distal duodenal switch) and my diabetes 2 miraculously "went away" the second I woke up after surgery and ate my first sugary jello with no blood glucose "flight"(A1c=4.8).  I lost a bit more weight over the next few years and became much more mobile.  Then I leveled off at 180 as in this picture.  I had some malnutrition issues because I let up on the protein shakes and vitamin supplements, unwisely.  Hair fell out, bone density got so bad I broke a rib just picking up a box, got bitot spots, night blindness, loss of color, dizzy spells.  Had a bad fever volunteering with orphans in India which culminated, I think, in my immune system attacking my pancreas.  Suddenly my weight was on a broken elevator plunging down three and more pounds per week no matter how much I ate.  I went through a period of drinking pickle juice like an addict trying to stop the nasty taste (probably ketones) in my mouth, until finally the doctor here in Japan discovered I had diabetes one(A1c=11.2). Childhood diabetes for an old wrinkled lady of 57, was he ever surprised!  At 132 pounds I was skeletal and horrible looking, you don't want to see a photo of that time; but thanks to insulin and good support from the internet diabetes sites and good diet and insulin books, I have my weight up to a more livable 150 now. (A1c=4.6). Thank God! Since I cured one diabetes with an operation, I'd love to do it again.  Does anyone on this list know much about pancreatic transplant operations for diabetes 1? Personal experiences and advice would be greatly appreciated.