Making informed changes towards health- Sandra’s Story  

Following a routine appointment and blood tests, Sandra was diagnosed by her GP as being prediabetic. Sandra’s GP suggested the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to reduce her risks of further developing the disease.

“Before joining the Healthier You: Diabetes Prevention Programme  , I had dangerously high blood pressure which led to me being in the prediabetic range. I was overweight with all prior attempts at losing it being unsuccessful. I was also slightly gluten intolerant which sometimes was quite painful and difficult to manage.”

During the first session, participants will meet their Health and Wellbeing Coach and their group, who will remain with them throughout the programme. Fun and interactive support and advice sessions will help them to start their journey with us.

“Since being on the programme, I have changed my whole eating patterns in line with the mediterranean diet. I’ve removed processed foods from my diet, preparing all my meals using fresh ingredients. I don’t snack or drink alcohol but I eat more, especially a wider variety of vegetables. Also, I move more during the day by doing short exercise routines at home including body resistance, kettle bell swings and 5–10-minute meditation each day.”

Participants should already be starting to feel healthier by session five. With ongoing support, they will find out how to make their new, simple lifestyle changes become part of their everyday life - now and in the future.

“Now, I love cooking again and enjoy what I eat. Since being on the programme, I have lost over one stone in weight and feel so much better. My mood has improved, and I am looking forward to getting healthier, fit and stronger so I can  go skiing in the future. Through establishing a consistent and methodical routine, my HbA1C reading has reduced.”

“This programme has had a massive impact on my life. Attending a group was important to provide me with a new environment to learn from my Health Coach and others attending. The timescale of the programme and modules enabled me to move through making changes that didn’t work for me to more informed gradual changes that did. I can say with confidence that had I not come on this course, I would still be trying to lose weight and as a result, be more frustrated and stressed trying to find the solution to improving my health.”