Diabetes plea MP loses seven stone and calls for awareness of condition

GLOUCESTER MP Alex McIntyre who has shed seven stone in four and half months is calling on people to get tested for diabetes.

- Carmelo GARCIA Local Democracy Reporter

Mr McIntyre was diagnosed with type two diabetes in January and has since been on an NHS programme of liquid meals.

His intake of calories is down to around 800 to 900 a day and he is on track to get his condition in remission. More than 7,450 people have been diagnosed with diabetes in Gloucester, which is roughly five per cent of people in the city.

The Labour MP is keen to encourage more people to get tested. "I was very overweight at the time, and was concerned that I had a couple of what appeared to be symptoms of type two diabetes," he said.

"They gave me a blood test and came back a couple of weeks later."

Mr McIntyre has since hosted events in Parliament with Diabetes UK which looks at the future of diabetes treatment. He said early onset of type two is a massive risk at the moment in the country with people in their 20s and 30s being diagnosed.

"The latest research has shown that if you're diagnosed in your 30s, like I was and you don't get it under control, then your average life expectancy is cut by 16 years," he said. "It's massive, and for me with a young family, that is the difference between seeing my little boy, have a full adulthood or not.

"It was quite a big wake up call for me."

Mr McIntyre said before being diagnosed he wanted to lose weight. Since being diagnosed with diabetes and being put on the NHS pathway to remission programme he has lost seven stone. "I wanted to shift a few pounds this year, because last year had been quite a busy year and I've gained quite a lot of weight just like lots of people do who have busy lives.