A DETERMINED Renfrewshire woman has told how she has beaten diabetes, thanks to a slimming programme which saw her lose more than four stones.

Agnes Flak, 45, has been able to stop medication for type-2 diabetes and says her overall health has improved dramatically since she lost the weight.

She told The Gazette: "My doctor says I show no symptoms. I've got my life back and I couldn't be happier."

Agnes, of Foxbar, Paisley, said she was jolted into taking action when medics gave her the shock news that she risked losing 10 years of her life through her medical condition.

She recalled: "I sat down and said to myself 'I don't want to lose 10 years of being with my family.'

"I had to do something about it."

It was then that Agnes sought help from weight loss organisation Slimming World – and, within a year, she had lost 4st 5lb and brought her sugar levels under control, thanks to their food optimising eating plan.

As an added benefit, her osteoarthritis also eased.

Agnes says the support she received was particularly vital as NHS research shows the risk of dying in hospital from Covid-19 is higher in people with diabetes.

Slimming World says a study of patients referred to a weight loss group by their diabetes specialist nurse lost, on average, 5.5 per cent of their weight over 12 months – and one in four had a 10 per cent weight reduction.

Agnes attends the Foxbar Slimming World group, which is currently running virtually, after joining in May 2019.

She said: “Being overweight impacted on so many aspects of my life, from struggling to find clothes to fit to not being able to do simple, everyday tasks without feeling out of breath.

"I always felt like I was lacking energy and like I was on a slippery slope to gaining more and more weight. I didn’t really see a way out.

“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’ – even during lockdown I’ve been able to make whatever is in the supermarket or my store cupboard."

Agnes, currently on furlough from her job as a quality engineer with Bridge of Weir Leather Company, has dropped from a size 22 to a size 14 – and, with her new-found energy, plans to go hill-walking once restrictions ease.

Jennifer McDade, who runs the Foxbar Slimming World group, said: “Looking after ourselves and our health is more important than ever right now and the changes Agnes has told us about are incredible."

The Foxbar group currently meets virtually every Wednesday at 5pm and 7pm. To join, call Jennifer on 0788 798 1262 or send an email to bubbly1974@yahoo.com.

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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