As we mark World Diabetes Day today (Thgursday) Jayne Barrett is celebrating after losing 4 stone 11 pounds and is no longer borderline type 2 diabetes.

Jayne’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.

Jayne Barrett, who attends the Usk Slimming World group, joined in April 2018. She says: "I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in February 2018, 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."

After this appointment, Jayne decided to join her local Slimming World group at Usk Conservative Club. She says: "Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly. The group was so welcoming.

"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 her diabetes care team, Jayne followed the Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan and started cooking healthy meals from scratch. She 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.

This means I still enjoy all my favourite meals the discovery of cauliflower gravy was a revalation - I’ve just learned how to make small changes like eating lots of vegetables, using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray instead of oil or butter."

Today Jayne’s lost a total of 4st 11lb and her Hba1 levels have dropped from 63 to 38. She’s also more active nowadays and regularly walks and is now trekking to Base Camp, Everst for Velindre Cancer Centre in memory of her husband who passed away aged 50.

"Thanks to the changes I’ve made my health has improved dramatically 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 anymore; it’s getting bigger and bigger by the day!"

Becky, who runs the Usk Slimming World group, says: "We know the obesity crisis is a ticking timebomb, 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 Jayne are incredible. I hope her success will inspire other people in the local area who’d like to lose weight and improve their health by forming new lifestyle habits and become happier to take action.

"That’s so important because the latest obesity statistics that show 66% of people in Wales are overweight and 22% obese.

"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 Jayne."

For more information on how to find your local group visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk