Enjoying exercise – Catherine’s story

Catherine tells us about her experience on the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, and the small changes she made to make a positive impact to her health.

“Before I joined the programme, I did some exercise and thought I was eating healthily but knew that I needed to lose some weight and try to keep out of the prediabetic zone.

“Since joining ‘Healthier You’ and attending the sessions, I have increased the amount of exercise I do, taking regular walks and fitness classes. I have started tai chi and aerobics strengthening classes which I enjoy every week.

“I’ve learned from the ‘Healthier You’ sessions how to properly log a food diary, and for the past several weeks I’ve made sure that my daily food intake includes fruit, vegetables, fibre and not too much fat. An example of this is that I now measure my cooking oil in teaspoon portions.

“Since attending the sessions, I have lost weight and feel more body confident. My blood reading has reduced, and I am maintaining this to reduce my risk of diabetes.

“The programme has made me much more aware of how certain lifestyle choices affect your body and increase your risk of developing diabetes. I will continue to exercise and maintain my new healthy lifestyle and diet.”