Cutting down on sugar has taken me out of danger
HAVE YOU GOT PRE- DIABETES?
Diane Clixby, 48, was diagnosed with pre-diabetes four years ago. A council manager, she lives near hull with her husband Andrew, 49, a groundsman. They have two daughters, Amanda, 26, and Stephanie, 22. Diane says:
DIABETES frightens me because I’ve seen the complications it can cause. My daughter Amanda has type 1 and has nerve damage to her legs. She has her eyes checked regularly for damage.
My brother has type 2 diabetes and also has eye damage.
Four years ago I weighed 14st 4lb — at 5ft 2in, I was officially obese. A blood test at a routine check-up showed I was pre-diabetic, but the nurse didn’t tell me.
As it happened, I decided to lose weight because I’m a special constable and my uniform had become so tight I had to wear men’s trousers, which was degrading.
That year I lost 3st by cutting down on sugary foods and eating more veg and fruit.
When I went for my annual check– up I was told that 12 months before I’d been borderline diabetic, but was now in the normal range again.
I was really annoyed no one had told me, as with my family history I would have made it even more of a priority to get my weight down.
Now I watch my diet and regularly use the treadmill at home.
My blood sugar is going to be something I’ll keep my eye on for the rest of my life.
I HAD NO ENERGY TO PLAY WITH MY FAMILY
KETAN Shah, 46, was diagnosed with pre-diabetes three years ago. A housing officer, he lives in Leicester with his wife and two children. he says: FOR a few months I’d felt something was wrong. I was tired all the time and had no energy.
I’d come home from work and just sit down — in the past, I’d have done things with the children and helped cook dinner.
My wife urged me to see a doctor. When he said I had pre-diabetes and could be heading for full-blown diabetes I was really worried.
I knew I wasn’t in great shape — my weight had crept up from 12 to 13½ stone and I’m only 5ft 3in, giving me a BMI of 33; my waist was 40 in.
I had an office job and could get through at least one chocolate bar and a packet of crisps each day. Apart from the weight, I didn’t realise that being of Asian origin put me at higher risk of diabetes, too. After my diagnosis I went on a six-week course arranged through my GP to learn about diet.
It’s no good trying to change everything overnight, it’s better to make small changes over a longer time, reducing sugary snacks rather than banning them.
I stopped having 2 tsp sugar in my tea, cut back on snacks and instead of rice and bread with my main meal I’d j ust have one, because they’re high in carbohydrate, which converts to sugar in the blood. I started eating more fruit and vegetables and slowly lost half a stone.
Now instead of working through lunch at my desk I’ll take a 30- minute walk. I also set up a weekly walking club.
My blood sugar is now in the normal range and my waist is down to 37in. I’m doing all I can to make sure I don’t get diabetes.
I THOUGHT I WAS TOO SLIM TO BE A RISK
Douglas Nichol, 70, developed pre-diabetes eight years ago. A retired university careers adviser, he lives in Leicester with his wife Mary, 66. The couple have three grown-up children. Douglas says: I’D ALWAYS been thin and had no idea that I was on the verge of diabetes. I only found out after volunteering for a research screeni ng programme. A blood test showed my blood sugar was high and the doctor explained that though I didn’t have diabetes, I was heading that way.
I was surprised. I weighed 14st 12lb — at just under 6ft tall, my BMI was 29, so I was overweight, though not by much.
The news made me panicky — I’d had a mild heart attack at 58 and knew t hat diabetes greatly increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
I really didn’t want to get fullblown diabetes, so though I was already playing golf twice a week, I started taking a brisk 45-minute power walk every day, too.
I stopped eating bread and cut down on potatoes; I also started eating more vegetables.
My one indulgence is a couple of glasses of red wine every night. I’m now a healthy 12st 5lb and my blood sugar level is in the normal range.