Debbie's story
Name: Debbie
Weight loss: 1st
Was: 16st
Now: 15st
Age: 42
Height: 5'6"
"Over time, with the support of WW and my diabetes nurse, I hope to improve my health, reduce my dependency on pills and live a long, healthy life for the sake of my daughter."
With a 1st loss under her belt already, Debbie is committed to changing and getting to goal...
Type 2 diabetes I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more than 20 years ago. I weighed over 18st, thanks to a love of sugary foods. So my weight was a risk, although I didn’t know it.
Continued to eat sugary foods When I was first diagnosed, I was completely in denial about the disease. Although I was told there are long-term health implications, such as kidney disease and sight problems, I believed that, because I didn’t need to inject insulin, I could get away with continuing to eat sugary foods.
Tackling my weight It was during my latest appointment with a diabetes nurse that I realised I had to tackle my weight once and for all. I already had to take eight tablets a day, and here was my nurse telling me that I may have to take more.
Learning how to eat properly So I’ve finally accepted that my weight problem is less about looks, and more about health. My husband, Graham, has never had a problem with my size, but we have a seven-year-old daughter, Lois, and I want enough energy to keep up with her. I also want her to learn how to eat properly and stay at a healthy weight.
This is just the beginning Simple changes have led to a weight loss of 1st in 12 weeks, but this is just the beginning. I set up a cake-making business last year, which you’d think would make managing my food more difficult, but it’s given me a new focus. I manage my condition by eating lower-sugar foods and controlling my portion sizes. I keep busy with work, and try to walk everywhere.
The 'why me?' feeling But, for the first time, I’ve also realised that I have to keep my mind healthy, too – meditation and yoga have helped me cope with the ‘why me?’ feelings. I am committed to changing. Over time, with the support of WW and my diabetes nurse, I hope to improve my health, reduce my dependency on pills and live a long, healthy life for the sake of my daughter.
What you should know now Type 2 diabetes is usually linked to lifestyle. It develops when the body can no longer produce insulin or the insulin stops working. The result is a build-up of glucose in the blood, which puts your organs at risk. What many people don’t know is that up to 80 per cent of cases of type 2 could be delayed or prevented with a few easy changes, involving diet and exercise. You can check your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by visiting diabetes.org.uk/riskscore.
RELATED: 10 ways to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes