A WARMINSTER woman has managed to prevent herself developing Type 2 diabetes after making changes to her lifestyle.

When Daniela Mulholland’s GP told her she had pre-diabetes in December 2017, she was horrified. Her mother had died of Type 2 diabetes and other members of her family had also developed the condition.

Determined that she wouldn’t follow the same path, Daniela, 66, reduced her food portions and increased her physical activity.

Daniela aid: “I first refused to believe I was at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes: me, who had been a vegetarian and completely tee-total since the age of 45 – never! I was overweight but not obese. I even grew my own fruit and vegetables.

“Eating less was going to be a struggle as I’ve always been blessed with a healthy appetite. Increasing exercise was going to be even harder as I was recovering from major heart surgery.

“But I didn’t want to go through the misery my mother went through, so I set myself targets, starting with walking half an hour a few times a week and gradually reducing portion sizes.

“All sweets were completely abolished and fruit intake limited to two pieces a day.”

At her annual health check-up a year later, her doctor congratulated her. A year later Daniela had lost 10lb and was no longer in the danger zone for Type 2 diabetes.

Pre-diabetes, also known as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, is where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to diagnose diabetes. It indicates that a person could go on to develop Type 2 diabetes.

People with Type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or the insulin they produce doesn’t work properly. Family history, age, certain ethnic backgrounds and being overweight are risk factors. If not managed well, diabetes can lead to devastating complications, including sight loss, lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.

Mrs Mulholland also joined her local Diabetes UK support group in Warminster, which, she said kept her “grounded” thanks to the encouragement of fellow members and useful talks about the condition from expert speakers.

She continues to walk two or three times a week and is a member of Get Wiltshire Walking, a Wiltshire Council public health initiative.

Phaedra Perry, south west regional head of Diabetes UK, said: “More than half of all cases of Type 2 diabetes could be prevented or delayed through healthy eating, losing weight and exercise.

“Daniela Mulholland is proof positive that this is possible. We recognise that it can be hard, so a visit to your surgery is a good way to find out what support is available, including diabetes prevention programmes.”

“Local Diabetes UK groups are also invaluable sources of information and encouragement.”

To contact Warminster Diabetes UK call 01985 988324 or email warminsterdiabetes@gmail.com.

Tesco pharmacies in Trowbridge and Salisbury are offering free Type 2 risk assessments. If you are found to be at risk, the pharmacy team will advise you on what to do next.