A King's Lynn grandmother is riding high after losing more than a stone following a health check which warned that she was a borderline diabetic.
Sandra Auker, 62, had tried all kinds of diets over the years but none had worked until she was referred onto a free Slimming World course following an NHS Health Check.
During this check, Mrs Auker was warned that she could develop diabetes but rather than being prescribed tablets she opted for the free 12 week course.
Mrs Auker, who works for West Norfolk Council, said; 'Losing weight has made me healthier and I feel so much more energetic. I have Osteoporosis, which affects my bones, but losing weight has helped to reduce my aches and pains.
'I have tried every diet over the years but this is the first one that I have stuck to. Maybe it is my age or the fact that I was warned that I could be a diabetic but it has really worked.'
NHS Health Checks are offered to people aged between 40 and 74 years-old, with no known medical condition to assess their risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, strokes or kidney disease.
Mrs Auker said: 'It was quite a wake-up call to be told that I could have diabetes but rather than give me tablets, I was offered Slimming World.'
Mrs Auker weighed in at 13st 10lb when she started the Slimming World group in March and has steadily lost 17lbs.
She said: 'My advisor Katie Hopgood has been really supportive.
'I am trying things like overnight oats and we have got rid of the chip pan. My husband has also lost weight. I am also walking which is not something I did before I lost the weight.'
Norfolk has 52,560 people registered with diabetes, with 11,610 of them in West Norfolk. But it fears many more maybe unaware they have the condition.
West Norfolk Clinical Commissioning group is working with CCG colleagues in Norfolk to promote how people can prevent or reduce their risk of developing diabetes along with the free NHS Health Checks.
Details of NHS Health Checks in Norfolk can be found on Norfolk County Council's website at www.norfolk.gov.uk.
More information on diabetes and how to reduce your risk is available online at www.diabetes.org.uk.
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