Weigh to go! Slimmer backs up research that shows people with diabetes CAN lose weight

A LOCAL man is celebrating after losing over 7 stone and no longer suffers from type 2 diabetes, no longer needing his medication and gaining control of his diabetes. 

Slimming World say, “Nigel Smith’s inspirational story supports research revealing that losing weight with Slimming World is successful in supporting patients who have type 2 diabetes to lose weight and manage their glucose control.”

Nigel, who attended Forest & Sandridge Slimming World and later Melksham  Guides HQ joined in September 2015. He says,“I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and the doctor told me I would need to take medication to manage it, my blood sugar was dangerously high, my weight was seriously impacting my health, I needed to take control of my weight to help manage the condition. 

“Being overweight impacted on so many aspects of my life, from struggling to find clothes that I like to fit, to not being able to do simple everyday tasks without feeling tired and out of breath. I always felt like I was lacking energy, I felt like I was on a slippery slope to gaining more and more weight and I didn’t really see a way out.”

Nigel decided to join his local Slimming World group at Forest School. He says, “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly especially my consultant. The group was so welcoming too.

“Since then my fellow members have become real friends and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week. They helped me with recipes and tips and if I was ever struggling, they were always there to remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since first stepping through the doors.”

With support from his diabetes care team, Nigel followed the Slimming World’s food optimising eating plan and started cooking healthy meals from scratch.  He says, “People think slimming means going hungry, yet it’s not like that at all with this healthy eating plan. I love food and it’s never once felt like I was on ‘a diet’ – in fact, people are always surprised at how much food I have on my plate and can’t believe I’m losing weight eating so much delicious food and without ever feeling hungry. I can tailor the plan to fit my dietary needs and I can do this with support from my diabetes care team. 

“This means I still enjoy all my favourite meals like roast dinners and Slimming World quiche – I’ve just learned how to make small changes like eating lots of vegetables, using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray.

“Thanks to the changes I’ve made, my health has improved dramatically and I no longer need to take any medication, my blood sugar reading is now in the normal range and the doctor says I show no symptoms of type 2 diabetes. I’ve got my life back and I couldn’t be happier. The world isn’t shrinking any more, it’s getting bigger and bigger by the day!” 

Carmen Middleditch, who runs the Melksham Guides HQ Slimming World group says, “We know the obesity crisis is a ticking time bomb, and type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity too. We believe the support you get from being in a warm, empowering group environment is key to helping you eat more healthily and becoming more active too.

“The changes we’ve seen in Nigel are incredible. I hope his success will inspire other people in Melksham who’d like to lose weight and improve their health by forming new lifestyle habits and become happier to take action. There’s a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World and, just think, if you start today you could feel like a completely new person just like Nigel”

There are groups every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Melksham. For more information, motivation and recipe ideas visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk