Retired Norden nurse sends type 2 diabetes into remission after dropping several dress sizes

A retired nurse has sent her type 2 diabetes into remission after losing over 3.5 stone during lockdown, dropping from a size 22/24 to an 18.

At her heaviest, Susan Foster, 57, of Norden, weighed 19 stone and 13 pounds, having struggled with her weight since her late 30s.

Losing her husband Anthony in March 2018 also had a negative impact on her mental and physical health, with the mum of two saying ‘it was all she could do to drag herself out of bed’ as she 'felt like a broken woman'.

Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around six years ago, Susan was horrified to be prescribed additional medication after she began to feel unwell around Christmas.

She said: “I had been diagnosed with diabetes type 2, high blood pressure and high cholesterol which meant I was taking a lot of medication.

“I had started to feel unwell around Christmas [2019] and New Year, experiencing all the symptoms you would expect when you record your own blood sugars with a reading of 28 mmol/L.”

High blood sugar – also known as hyperglycaemia - has been defined by the World Health Organisation as levels greater than 7.0 mmol/L when fasting, and levels greater than 11.0 mmol/L two hours after meals.

Susan found herself sat in the waiting room of the local hospital before being told to see her GP the following day - who prescribed yet more medication.

Susan added: “This gave me the wake-up call I needed and decided enough was enough.”

As a friend had joined her local WW group (formerly Weight Watchers), Susan decided to do the same, receiving a warm welcome from coach Kelly Leatherbarrow on 11 February.

Already a stone lighter, Susan was keen to join a WW workshop to help her motivation and change her mindset for good.

Susan said: “I had done many diets in the past from WW, Slimming World and my own healthy eating plans – to no avail. 

“I met Kelly Leatherbarrow, the coach of my group, who was – and still is – very supportive. I decided I was going to stay to meetings, not only for support and ideas but for some company too. I had told myself I was going to lose this weight for good and I didn’t care how long it was going to take.”

When meetings were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Susan began to weigh herself at Boots, sending the details onto Kelly.

“Up to this happening, I had lost weight every week. Like the rest of the nation, I was scared very anxious and even though I was in telephone contact with family and friends, everything felt so surreal and very lonely. I missed my husband more than ever. I was determined that I wasn’t going back to that dark place of depression. I had just started to feel like the old me,” Susan continued.

Determined to continue, Susan ordered a set of scales online, sending a photograph of her weight to Kelly each Tuesday since lockdown.

Due to her weight and her diabetes – risk factors of contracting the virus – Susan decided to shield, with her family dropping off food shopping, or ordering online.

She added: “I only ordered healthy food and knew if there were no treats in the house, I wouldn’t be tempted. I certainly wasn’t risking my health or anyone else’s just so I could have unhealthy snacks!

“I kept very busy; even without following an exercise programme, I was clocking up 10,000 steps plus every day.”

Having begun to cook healthy meals again, Susan has continued to lose weight every week, from one pound to 4.5, after living off sandwiches, toast and meal deals after her husband’s death.

In addition to losing inches all over her body, Susan has lost six inches from her waist, reducing the health risks associated with visceral fat around the abdomen.

With her sights set firmly forwards to future success, Susan is looking forward to enjoying new adventures with the new man in her life, 10-week-old golden retriever poodle cross, Brian.

She added: “I am finally liking what I see when I look in the mirror. It is 20 weeks since joining WW and, in that time, I have lost 51 pounds [3 stone and 9 pounds]. I am asked, ’how have you done it?’, ‘what have you done differently this time?’. The only answer I have is that I have followed the plan.

“My diabetes has gone into remission: I am so thrilled and proud as is my GP, who has been a tremendous support. I have to start reducing my medication now. My GP is doing a video for the surgery and has asked me to take part. I know I can do this, and I am going to continue to work hard until I reach my goal weight.”

Kelly Leatherbarrow said: “Susan has absolutely embraced lockdown, taking time to focus on her health and making changes. It has been so easy to forget what day it is, except on a Tuesday morning when she makes herself accountable and sends her photo of her weigh in, and it lifts my day hearing about her week.

“Her approach to this opportunity has been totally inspiring and instead of focusing on the things she isn't able to do, she has taken time to control her environment and give herself a different mindset to enable her to succeed.

“I am so proud of her resilience over the last few months, that has now resulted in an amazing medication reduction. She is currently shielding, but I'm pretty sure I won’t recognise her when she returns to the physical workshop."