Soaring obesity levels have been linked to the rise in diabetes sufferers and 46-year-old Gary was the biggest he’d ever been when he finally decided to seek help.
Gary said: “I’d had trouble sleeping for several years; I’d feel tired throughout the day. When I was finally persuaded to visit my doctor, I had various blood tests and was diagnosed with sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes – the cause of both illnesses was my weight and I was shocked!
“I had to wear a mask in bed every night to keep my airways open, as the weight of my neck was crushing my windpipe. I was told that, through weight loss, I should be able to reverse the effects of my diabetes and possibly stop using the mask to aid my sleep.
“At the time of my diagnosis, I was tipping the scales at 145kg. I knew I needed to lose weight and was determined. I needed a diet that was easy to follow and would allow me to lose the amount of weight I needed. I discovered The 1:1 Diet online and booked my first consultation.
“I first started gaining weight in my teens and since that point I’ve always struggled to keep it under control. I didn’t worry too much about my health back then as I thought I had plenty of years ahead of me to get myself fit.
“As the years went by, I was far too busy enjoying local pubs and clubs, as well as takeaways – I became a comfort eater.
“This pattern of behaviour continued during my marriage and while my children were growing up, so my weight started gradually increasing. I just kept telling myself that I’d lose weight at some point to make myself feel better.
“My marriage broke down in 2013 and I started living alone. I quickly started enjoying the single life, visiting pubs and eating far too much. Even when I did cook at home, I never ate the healthiest of dinners and would often snack between meals. Over the years I did try dieting, but found diets impossible to stick to after a couple of weeks.
“When I first started the Plan, I managed to lose 13kg in the first two months. I was over the moon! I made it my mission to lose 50kg in total, which I am proud to say I achieved!
“Even better, when I had my check-up with my diabetes nurse, she told me I’d completely reversed my type 2 diabetes symptoms! I was in absolute shock; all my levels are completely normal. I’ve also been discharged as an outpatient from hospital as I no longer have sleep apnoea!
“The 1:1 Diet completely turned my life around, and I can’t thank my Consultant enough for her continued support. Without her I simply couldn’t have done it.
“I’ve since started ‘Couch to 5k’, something I never thought I’d be able to do.”
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