WHEN Lionel Curtis was diagnosed with diabetes, his first thoughts were of making a proper will.
For him, his diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was a death sentence and he assumed he only had a few weeks left to live.
But that was back in the mid-1990s.
"The doctor said 'you've got diabetes, so no more pies and pasties for you'," said Lionel.
"I was in a bit of a daze and didn't really know what to do.
"When I was a child and someone got diabetes, you knew they didn't last very long.
"I thought I was going to die in a few weeks.
"I thought I'd better start getting my affairs in order and sorting everything out."
But Lionel, who is now 69, didn't need to worry.
Although type 2 diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in the UK – thanks to high obesity rates and unhealthy lifestyles – it doesn't have to be a killer illness.
Lionel, a former British Gas worker, said: "I went and spoke to the nurse at work and she told me it wasn't a death sentence – it was a chance to have a lifestyle change.
"I had thought I was fairly fit and healthy before, but I realised I wasn't."
Lionel, who lives of Bricknell Avenue, in west Hull, had thought he had quite a physical job going round to customers' houses and fixing and maintaining their gas fittings.
He would arrive home after a long day and usually eat a roast for dinner.
"I'd have breakfast, go to work and have lunch, and then have a full evening meal," he said.
"I wasn't very physically active at night.
"I thought I was quite fit because it was a physical job, but I was only as fit as the job I was doing – you're not fit in fitness terms.
"I was fit enough to do the job, but I couldn't have gone jogging or anything."
In 2002, Lionel joined the Hull and District Diabetes Support Group and was thrilled to meet other people with diabetes.
"I heard people speaking who'd had it for years," he said.
"I thought 'great, there is nothing wrong with me' and I was elated.
"I realised I wasn't going to die because these people had had it for years and looked perfectly fine."
Lionel says that problems only occur when people choose to ignore their diagnosis and think that medication is the answer to their problems.
"You hear people saying that because they're on the tablets, they don't need to worry about it," he said.
"But you have to look after your diet as well.
"It isn't about saying 'no' to things you like though – just everything in moderation.
"You hear a lot of myths about diabetes when you're first diagnosed – I heard one person saying you can't have stew.
"The weird rumours and myths people tell us at the group are very strange – I have no idea where they come from."
To help address some of these myths, the charity Diabetes UK and Bupa will host a roadshow on Monday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 1, in Hull.
The roadshow will offer people free diabetes risk assessments so people can find out if they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Last year, the roadshow bus travelled the country and saw almost 20,000 people step on board to find out information, including tips on eating a balanced diet and getting physically active.
Physical activity is now something Lionel relishes and his diet has also vastly improved.
"I eat everything I want to eat but in smaller portions," he said.
"I eat slowly too, so I know when I'm full.
"If you want a biscuit, have a biscuit. Just don't eat the whole packet."
But people do still suffer the side affects of diabetes, which can range from small things like tiredness to more drastic measures such as having a limb amputated.
Lionel said: "You hear the horror stories of black toenails and rotten feet and things like that.
"But if you look after yourself properly, it doesn't have to be like that.
"People can't carry on eating badly and taking tablets thinking it is all fine.
"I now enjoy walking and I make sure I get out and about more.
"The initial news was devastating – I literally went straight home to check on my insurance and get my will sorted.
"But now I'm much happier and feel in control.
"I have porridge or toast in the morning, a sandwich for lunch and something like grilled fish for dinner. It's about education and moderation – not depriving yourself."
The Hull and District Diabetes Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm at the Mercure Hull Royal Hotel in Ferensway.
There is also a Beverley and District Group, which meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm at Castle Hill Hospital.
The Diabetes UK roadshow is on Monday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 1, in Queen Victoria Square.
Visit www.diabetes.org.uk for details.
Small changes you can make to reduce the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes...Portion sizes Nowadays we are used to a culture of jumbo-size portions but you can retrain your brain by eating off a smaller plate. A healthy serving of protein should not be larger than a palm size piece of meat. Carbohydrate servings such as pasta can be measured by fistfuls. A healthy serving of pasta should be one fistful.Keep an eye on your waistline and your purse Meat can often be full of saturated fat and too much of this fat can lead to increased amounts of cholesterol in the blood which can increase the risk of heart disease. Use lower fat meats such as chicken and turkey or fish. Alternatively, you can use pulses such as peas, beans or lentils to replace or supplement meat in traditional recipes. They can also be used in soups and salads and can work out to be cheaper than most cuts of meat.Sugar and fat watch Calories can sneak in when we least expect them so watch out for added sugar in food and drinks. Start reading your labels, compare products and go for the low or reduced sugar option or think about substituting alternatives. Nearly a quarter of added sugar in our diets comes from soft drinks, fruit juice and other non-alcoholic drinks.Say goodbye to too much frying It's also important to limit your fat intake. Think about whether you can grill, bake, poach, steam, microwave or boil foods instead of frying them. Don't be tempted to buy so-called 'diabetic foods'. These are often higher in fat and more expensive then the foods they are replacing.Learn to switch Switch double cream for light crème fraiche. It is heat stable, which means it won't split, and ideal for use in savoury sauces. Fromage frais is fresh skimmed cow milk cheese, but tastes more like a natural yogurt. It is not heat stable so best used in desserts and dips in place of cream or Greek yogurt. Whip up whipping cream rather than double cream for filling cream buns or cakes.Be strong Try using stronger cheese for cooking. You'll find that you won't have to use so much to give it a cheesy flavour. Grated cheese tends to go further too.Bake with a difference Instead of using sugar, which is high in calories, some sweeteners can be used effectively in cooking and baking – simply follow the manufacturer's instructions. But think about the amount of fat involved as well.Value special occasions We all love a special occasion and there's no problem at all in treating yourself. But it's all too easy to make big treats an everyday occurrence. If you are watching your waistline then try to make sure you keep your special occasions just that.Make lifestyle changes with others If you need a helping hand with your diet or upping your physical activity why not think about joining a weight management group or seeing if friends would be interested in swapping the odd night out for a swim or a walk.Make new habits Anything that you do regularly is going to help you keep your weight down. Whether that's being able to commit to walk all or part of the way to work or replacing high fat dairy products with low fat ones. It may be hard at first to cut out sugar from your tea or swap biscuits for fruit but the good news is it should become second nature very soon.
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