Pre-diabetes ‘shock’ proves wake-up call
WHEN Linda Bowyer found out that she was pre-diabetic it came as a huge shock.
The 60-year-old, from Bishop Auckland, had always considered her health important after suffering from an underactive thyroid and an irregular heartbeat.
Believing that diabetes was a disease caused when people were “overweight and had a poor diet”, she never expected she would find herself at risk.
And she was gobsmacked to learn that she was at the top of the high-risk scale with an hba1c reading of 47.
Linda said: “In my ignorance, I thought that diabetes was related to people that were overweight and had a poor diet.
“Oh, how wrong I was, and it was down to me to do something about it.
“I had three choices...take medication, do nothing, or attend the NDPP Healthier You programme that the NHS refers patients to with WW [formerly Weight Watchers].” Linda immediately knew that she had to reverse her pre-diabetes diagnosis and without hesitation joined the NDPP Healthier You programme.
And now she is hoping to show others that you can always make a difference to your health.
She added: “The choice was easy, NDPP. I didn’t want to go on to medication, and I certainly didn’t want to become diabetic.
“I didn’t need to lose too much weight, and I have lost over half a stone.”
Linda’s small change has had a huge positive impact on her health, causing her blood sugar level to drop from 47 to 33.
“This is a massive drop. I also suffer from an underactive thyroid and have an irregular heartbeat, so looking after my health is important.”, Linda added.
Through making healthier choices in her diet, Linda has decided completely cut out some foods and reduced how often she eats others.
She has swapped some white foods for brown and eats a lot more chicken, vegetables, and fruit, as well as drinking more water, which she previously didn’t like. Useful changes to her lifestyle have also helped to keep her on track with a healthy diet. This includes planning meals at least one day ahead to make sure she has everything she needs, and also cooking in bulk.
Linda said: “Due to planning and cooking in bulk it has been easier to fit the WW plan into my day-to-day routines.
“My lifestyle is slightly different due to increased activity, being more conscious of popping into the cafe for coffee and cake every time I go out.
“I still do this occasionally but other times I take lunch out with me and eat it in the car. “I got a Fitbit and now do at least 10k steps every day and am loving it.”
Linda’s husband is now also following the WW plan. She added that her husband suffered from IBS and has found that it has been helped with the improved foods. He has also
lost 9lbs.