Retired lorry driver reduces diabetes risk and loses 5st

A 76-YEAR-OLD retired lorry driver from Rochdale has lost five stone in just a year after learning he was pre-diabetic, with the help of an NHS programme. John Adams-Fielding has shared his story to coincide with the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week, which began on Monday (May 26).

- BY GRETA SIMPSON

Around 144,000 people in Greater Manchester are pre-diabetic, which means their blood sugar levels are above normal but not yet high enough to be classified as Type 2 Diabetes.

John was invited to join the NHS’s prevention programme, called Healthier You, after his annual blood test showed he was at risk of developing the condition.

He joined a face-to-face pre-vention meeting in Rochdale with other participants to learn more about the condition and the steps required to reduce his risk of developing it.

John said being in a supportive group setting made the programme easier. “Make it fun,” he said. “Don't make it feel like a punishment.

“I would go for a walk in the park and listen to music on my headphones. I've made a lot of friends on my walks who I speak to every day.