Stephen’s transformation and reversal of pre-diabetes through Eatwise

67-year-old Stephen Marshall from County Durham has achieved an impressive transformation - losing two stone, reducing his BMI to 33, and reversing his pre-diabetes diagnosis - with support from Wellbeing for Life (WBFL).

Stephen initially weighed 20.5 stone, and his GP confirmed his BMI was 38, placing him in the obese category. He was also diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Alarmed by the news, Stephen accepted a referral to WBFL and joined the 12-session Eatwise programme.

Previously diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Stephen had struggled with his job as a Waste Collector, which eventually led to his retirement. Reflecting on his progress, Stephen said:

“Before I started the Eatwise programme, I couldn’t even walk from one end of the building [The Garth] to the other without needing to sit down and recover. Now, I can walk up the hill, help sweep the grounds, and deliver newspapers - just to keep moving.”

Stephen (left) and Wellbeing Practitioner Tina (right).

Stephen’s improvements have been impressive, he has:

• reduced his weight to 18.5 stone and set a final goal of 14 stone

• improved his BMI from obese to very overweight

• reversed his diagnosis of pre-diabetes

• reduced his alcohol intake

Wellbeing Practitioner Tina Irving praised his commitment: “Stephen has learned how to read food labels. In one session, he even brought in the contents of his cupboard so we could go through each label together. Cutting down on his favourite chocolate and switching to non-alcoholic beer has really helped him make progress.”

Tina added that Stephen had been a model participant, consistently completing his weekly food diary and working hard to add more vegetables to his meals: “He used to have a large Yorkshire pudding with meat and gravy for Sunday lunch. Now, he fills his plate with vegetables and only has a small Yorkshire pudding.”

Stephen also shared how he’s changed his breakfast habits - swapping a greasy bacon sandwich and fizzy drink for a healthier option like Weetabix. He now drinks more water and hot drinks instead of multiple soft drinks throughout the day.

Proud of his achievements, Stephen showed Tina a text from his GP confirming that his HbA1c levels are now within a healthy range. He said: “I honestly don’t think I’d be here today without this programme and Tina. I would have kept gaining weight, struggled to get around, and my pre-diabetes would have developed into Type 2 diabetes.”

Looking ahead, Stephen plans to maintain his healthier eating habits and increased physical activity. He’s now focused on reducing his cholesterol levels. Tina added: “We’ve applied for a Microgrant to buy Stephen an air fryer, as he currently uses a deep fat fryer at home. This small change could make a big difference in helping him reduce his cholesterol and eat less fatty food.”

Lindsey Wood, Wellbeing for Life Programme Manager said: “Wellbeing for Life offer personalised support to individuals across County Durham and can support health eating and weight management, stopping smoking, alcohol reduction and mental wellbeing. All our programmes equip individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to make healthy lifestyle changes that are sustainable long after the programme ends, and which can reduce their risk of developing health complications.”

Wellbeing for Life is a part of Adult Wellbeing Services, delivered in partnership by Pioneering Care Partnership and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.