I hear that all the time too that I don't need surgery if I just learn to eat right and put a bigger effort into exercise I could do it without surgery. I let them talk. This is my life and my journey and if all there was to it was to eat right and exercise then I should be thin right? I;m diabetic too and you have to eat when you blood sugar drops down. It' s hard for me to exercise because of my breathing issues which will be made better by the surgery. I can maybe lose my diabetes and my sleep apnea (machine and all!), borderline high blood pressure and skin issues if I lose the weight. If they are my friend and they support me great, but if they choose not to support my decision that is okay with me too, they don't walk in my shoes and I'm sure I don't support every decision they make either. I just know it's right for me. Sounds to me like you know it is right for you too so try not to let no one get you down. You know what you live with everyday , they don't. I think for the both of us this will be the best decision we ever made. When is your surgery? Mine is aug. 3rd.