MP loses seven stone after diabetes diagnosis

An MP who has lost seven stone (44.4kg) since January after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has said he wants to show others it is possible to put the disease into remission.

Labour's Alex McIntyre, who was elected MP for Gloucester in the 2024 general election, said the diagnosis was "the wake up call I needed" and he is now resetting his relationship with food.

The 32-year-old is urging anyone carrying "a bit of extra timber" to get tested for the condition, and consider joining the NHS rapid weight loss programme.

"The real privilege of being an MP is that I can talk about my diabetes publicly to help other people with it too," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

About 34,000 people in Gloucestershire are living with type 2 diabetes, according to NHS data.

The condition occurs when a person cannot make enough of the hormone insulin which helps the body use glucose for energy, leading to levels of glucose in the blood becoming dangerously high.

One of the primary causes of type 2 diabetes is obesity, and complications can include cardiovascular disease, sight loss, nerve damage and even amputation in extreme cases.

But making lifestyle changes to lose weight can put the disease into remission.

Those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in their 30s lose an average of 16 years from their life span.

"For me, 16 years is the difference between seeing my son growing up and getting married one day or not," McIntyre said.

"It's also been a real opportunity to look at my relationship with food and think 'what do I want my life to look like over the next 20 years?'

"I want it to be healthier, I want it to be happier and I want it to be more active."

McIntyre is on the NHS's year-long Pathway to Remission programme, which begins with a 12-week diet of only soups and shakes amounting to between 800 and 900 calories a day.

"It's not for the faint-hearted but you are supported through it," he said.

"You have a weekly check-up call and you are constantly measuring your blood sugar and weighing yourself to make sure you are doing it healthily."

Almost a third of those who complete the programme put their diabetes into remission, according to the NHS.

The MP said the support of his friends and family, and feeling more energetic when playing with his son, were the things that helped him through.

"One of things I want to do by coming forward is to tell people you can do it but also encourage a conversation about how we can support people as well," McIntyre added.

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