Diabetes programme changed our lives say high-risk Newbury patients

In April, the Newbury Weekly News reported that Tim Walter, of Falkland Surgery, was leading a pioneering scheme to identify patients who were identified as high risk and had a likelihood of developing diabetes within the next 20 to 30 years.
He said that the scheme, which had received funding from Newbury and District Clinical Commissioning group and general practice database, QResearch, would identify people already on the surgery books who were at risk and would encourage them to join a weight-loss programme to help improve their outcome.
The scheme was the first in the country.
One patient, Martyn William-son, of Newbury, was finding it increasingly difficult to run his sanctuary for rescued birds – Penwood Wildlife.
The 67-year-old had had high blood pressure for the past 50 years and had undergone two hip replacements.
When he joined the scheme, Mr Williamson had a body mass index of 34 and was told by his GP that he had a 33 per cent chance of developing diabetes over the next 10 years.
The scheme aims to support those with a risk factor of more than 30 per cent.
Mr Williamson was encouraged to join an Eat4Health programme, which supports participants in leading a healthy lifestyle, and said that afterwards he felt more mobile then he had done in years
He said: “I went to the first session without any pre-conceived ideas and 10 weeks later, came out two stones lighter. It has made such a difference to my life as everything seems easier to do.”
Another West Berkshire resident, Robert Burrow (pictured), was told by his GP that he had a 44 per cent risk of developing diabetes within a few years and was recommended that he took the course.
Mr Burrow, aged 65, has since lost 12.5 per cent of his weight and said: “I always wanted to improve my health to be able to enjoy my retirement.
“But when I was told I could have diabetes, it hit the nail on the head.”
He said that what began with eating healthier eventually led to many healthy lifestyle changes, starting with how he shopped and spending more time cooking healthy foods rather than snacking. His waist is now trimmer by 11cm.
Overall, 29 participants who have taken part in the study have lost an average 3.5 per cent of their body weight, with some losing up to 12 per cent.
Dr Walter said that he believed that the risk of diabetes among these participants had been reduced by up to 50 per cent.
He started with a second batch of participants in mid-August.