About Us
Lifestyle Choices
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Graham's Story
Just over a year ago, I had some pains in my right side so had to call out the paramedics. Thankfully I was ok, but I had a lot of different tests which showed that I was quite unhealthy including being right on the borderline of being diabetic. I knew that I had been putting on weight, but hadn’t realised that anything was really wrong until then and hadn’t been to the doctors for a long time, and it was a big wake up call for me. I actually started making some lifestyle changes straight after this happened, so when Rachel first contacted me to join the Diabetes Prevention programme a couple of weeks later, I had already lost a stone. And even though I had already started to lose weight, I thought that the extra help would still be useful and wanted to give it a go.
Graham's Journey on the programme
I knew I was going to be weighed every session and this really helped to keep me on track. It kept me accountable. It was also good to be in a group with other people in the same boat as it was good to learn about what others are doing. The venue was very convenient from my house as I could walk there, so I managed to get in some more physical activity just getting into the sessions! I thought Rachel was really good at presenting and would get the point across to us really well. We would also have a laugh in the sessions as well, which made them a lot more enjoyable.
Results
My HbA1c has gone down to 32 from almost at the diabetic range, but most of the other metrics like blood pressure, cholesterol and others have really dropped as well. I started at 17 stone 9, and I am now about 13 1/2 stone. I actually lost this weight in the first six months, but have so far managed to keep it off. I just feel so much better. I have so much more energy than before as I used to fall asleep after I got home from work and I used to be irritable, but now I just feel so much better. If anyone is referred onto the programme but is unsure as to whether to give it a go, all I would say is give it a go. You have a lot to learn and if it's not for you, then it's not for you, but at least give it a go!
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