One of the largest diabetes research programmes in the UK has just enrolled its 10,000th participant in Norfolk and Suffolk.

The £2.5m Norfolk Diabetes Prevention Study has been successfully recruiting volunteers through GP practices in both counties for four years – and has now added surgeries in North East Essex.

All the participants are screened and those at the highest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes are invited to take part in a three year lifestyle intervention programme

The programme involves group sessions to help people increase their activity, eat healthily and lose weight if needed. Some of the participants get additional support between sessions from Diabetes Prevention mentors.

Joining the programme changed the way of life for Carole Kirk, 72, from Mulbarton. The screening process spotted her raised glucose levels.

She and her husband Michael, 75, cut sugar out of their diets and took up swimming. Soon they were swimming twice a week and walking two or three times a week as well.

Mrs Kirk said: 'We got fitter and fitter and I felt a lot better in myself, I really did.'

She said she thought the course was 'brilliant' and was worth it to have the knowledge about how much sugar is in so many foods.

'I don't even buy chocolate biscuits now,' she added.

She lost nearly a stone in weight and says the programme gave her the push to get fitter.

People can register themselves via www.norfolkdiabetes preventionstudy.nhs.uk or call the team on 01603 597300.

Do you have a health story? Call Nicholas Carding on 01603 772439 or email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk