A big thank you to Laura Bounford from Biddulph Slimming World for submitting this article. Laura has discussed the risks of diabetes and told the story of local slimmer Benji Williams, who lost almost 9 stone!

Last week was National Diabetes week. Diabetes UK's slogan for the event is "Your week, your voice, #DiabetesStories".

In the UK, someone is diagnosed with diabetes every two minutes. It is currently estimated that the NHS spends about £10 billion on diabetes every year. That's 10% of its overall budget.

With one in six hospital beds being occupied by someone who has diabetes. When diabetes is not well managed, it is associated with serious complications including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations leading to disability and premature mortality.

There are now an estimated 4.7 million people with the condition in the UK, which includes around 3.8 million adults who have been diagnosed. Around 900,000 cases are estimated to be undiagnosed.

Since 1996, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK has more than doubled (According to Diabetes UK - Tackling the crisis: Transforming diabetes care for a better future 2019).

Slimming World helps people to manage diabetes by helping them to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle, Slimming World can dramatically reduce a member's chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes UK suggests that people with diabetes follow the same kind of healthy, balanced diet that is recommended for the rest of the population: aiming to reduce total fat intake, particularly saturated fat; limit sugary and salty foods and drinks; include plenty of fruit and vegetables and some starchy carbohydrate foods and try to increase consumption of high-fibre foods too.

As it is perfectly balanced and totally healthy, this can easily be achieved with the flexibility that Slimming World's Extra Easy Food Optimising plan offers. With its generosity and freedom of choice for plenty of healthy food options, Food Optimising puts members in control of the foods they eat and when they eat them.

This makes it easy for our members to fit in any personal dietary advice they have been given by their diabetes care team and makes it suitable for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and those with pre-diabetes alike.

Type 1 diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. It usually starts in childhood and is not caused by lifestyle factors. The condition can't be cured and must be treated with daily insulin injections. It now accounts for around 10% of all cases of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is often linked with carrying excess weight and obesity, as this is the most significant risk factor for developing the condition, accounting for 80-85% of the overall risk of developing it.

A large waist circumference is also a key risk factor. It develops if the body can't make enough insulin to function efficiently or if the body's cells don't react to the insulin that is produced.

There are various stages of treatment and the condition can be managed by losing weight and adopting healthier lifestyle habits alone or through a combination of diet plus medication. It accounts for around 90% of all people with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes usually appears in middle-aged or older people, although more frequently it is being diagnosed in younger overweight people. There are currently least 6,000 children and people younger than 25 with type 2 diabetes in England and Wales. Shockingly, 12.3 million people in the UK are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. And sadly, more than 500 people with diabetes die prematurely every week in the UK.

In England, obese adults are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than adults of a healthy weight. Currently 90% of adults with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.

People whose weight places them at high risk of diabetes can reduce their risk of developing the condition by 58% by losing just 7% of their body weight as part of a lifestyle intervention according to the Diabetes Prevention Programme 2002.

Slimming World member Benji Williams, 35 from Biddulph joined his local group weighing 25st 8lb. He said: "I'd been struggling with my weight for many years and at the age of 27 I was at the heaviest I'd ever been. I struggled to tie up my own shoe laces.

"It really affected me, both mentally and physically. After being diagnosed with high blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes by my GP, I was prescribed medication that I'd need to take for the rest of my life, unless I made a change. This was the wake-up call I really needed. I have a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters, and I knew I needed to look after myself, not just for my own sake, but for them too".

He has continued his journey despite many obstacles along the way. He had very low confidence and suffered from mental health issues at his previous weight, and has even over-come losing his job during Covid and being a very busy young father too. He is an absolute inspiration to anyone out there worried about their health, who would love to make a change, especially all of the men out there. Slimming World is not just for women - everyone is safely looked after and we have a right laugh in group!

People with diabetes are also advised to become more active and Slimming World's Body Magic programme is a great way to help you find new and enjoyable ways of moving more and to make them a new life-long habit.

He now walks up to 8 miles a day after embracing our Body Magic programme in group, which really inspired him to get going. His wife Charlotte attends the group now too - It's a real family affair and I know the changes the couple have made benefit the whole family too!

They both enjoy the freedom and variety that slimming world gives you, enjoying pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meats, fish and low-fat dairy products - The great news is no foods are off-limits with Slimming World. They are now on this journey together to achieve their weight loss dreams and look forward to a longer, healthier future together as a family.

Benji is now 16st 10lb, and tablet free! He now enjoys multiple benefits of losing weight; he has more energy to keep up with the girls and feels more motivated to include activity into his daily life. The most important benefit to him was the huge change in confidence, this has now soared.

Before, he suffered from mental health problems due to the physical and emotional burdens that often come with carrying excess weight. He is a talented singer but due to his weight and associated feelings of anxiety, sadly lost his confidence to perform.

The great news is, now 8st 12lb lighter he has started singing again, a personal passion of Benji's which he really enjoys.

All members with diabetes who join any of our communities groups are provided with a booklet 'Eating well with diabetes - a guide for Slimming World members'. This booklet includes information on the healthy eating steps to help manage blood glucose levels, blood fats and regulate weight recommended by Diabetes UK, and explains how Slimming World's Food Optimising system can help them achieve these steps.

As Slimming World Consultants, we are provided with information on how best to support members who have diabetes too.

We recommend everyone to talk to their diabetes care team about joining Slimming World and their plans to lose weight and become more active. Their care team will be able to offer specialist advice on diet, medication and how to manage their blood glucose levels throughout their personal weight-loss journey, as everyone is individual.

If you have diabetes, a family history of, or have been advised by your doctor that you may be at greater risk, it is never too late to turn things around.

An online survey of Slimmng World members with diabetes found that, since joining a Slimming World group:

- More than 90% reported improvements in glucose control

- 38% had been able to reduce or stop their diabetes medication

- Members with type 1 and type 2 diabetes successfully lost weight

- 66% had increased their activity levels

- 89% found it easy to fit individual dietary advice from their health care team into Food Optimising

To discover the difference with Slimming World simply contact one of the Congleton Consultants for more information, or to book your place. Booking is essential due to our Covid-19 safety measures.

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