A Brentford slimmer has backed up research that shows people with diabetes CAN lose weight, following the recent World Diabetes Day.

Ana Ponsonby is celebrating after losing over 3 stone and reducing her diabetes symptoms and medication.

Ana's inspirational story supports research revealing that losing weight with Slimming World is successful in supporting patients who have type 2 diabetes to lose weight and manage their glucose control.

Ana, who attends the Brentford Slimming World group, joined in January 2019, says: "I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in February 2018, and the doctor told me I would need to take medication to manage it - Metformin twice a day

"Being overweight impacted on so many aspects of my life, from struggling to find clothes that I like to fit to not being able to do simple everyday tasks without feeling tired and out of breath.

"I always felt like I was lacking energy, I felt like I was on a slippery slope to gaining more and more weight and I didn't really see a way out."

After hearing about it from a friend, Ana decided to join her local Slimming World group at the Inverness Lodge, Brentford.

She says: "Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I've ever done, I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there.

"I needn't have worried though, everyone there was so friendly especially my consultant Lisa. The group were so welcoming too.

"Since then my fellow members have become real friends and I honestly don't think I could have done it without their support each week.

"They helped me with recipes and tips and if I was ever struggling they were always there to remind me why I'd wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I'd come since first stepping through the doors."

With support from her diabetes care team, Ana followed the Slimming World's Food Optimising eating plan and started cooking healthy meals from scratch.

She swapped Chinese for beef or chicken stir fry. She says: "People think slimming means going hungry, yet it's not like that at all with this healthy eating plan.

"I love food and it's never once felt like I was on 'a diet' – in fact, people are always surprised at how much food I have on my plate and can't believe I'm losing weight eating so much delicious food and without ever feeling hungry.

"I can tailor the plan to fit my dietary needs and I can do this with support from my doctors and my Slimming World Group.

"This means I still enjoy all my favourite meals like burgers and chips and roast dinners - I've just learned how to make small changes like eating lots of vegetables, using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray instead of oil or butter."

Today Ana has lost a total of 3 stone 5lb and gone from dress 18 to 8-10 and has been a target member of our group for 18months, achieving her Diamond Target Membership after 12 months.

She's also more active nowadays and regularly runs around after her grandchildren and loves cooking stir fries for them.

"Thanks to the changes I've made my health has improved dramatically and I no longer need to take any medication.

"I've got my life back and I couldn't be happier. The world isn't shrinking anymore; it's getting bigger and bigger by the day!"

Lisa Maskell, who runs the Brentford Slimming World group, says: "We know the obesity crisis is a ticking timebomb, and type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity too.

"We believe the support you get from being in a warm, empowering group environment is key to helping you eat more healthily and becoming more active too. The changes we've seen in Ana are incredible.

"I hope her success will inspire other people in Brentford who'd like to lose weight and improve their health by forming new lifestyle habits and become happier to take action.

"That's so important because the latest obesity statistics that show 57.6% of people in the area are overweight or obese. Which is higher than the regional average of 55.9%.

"There's a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World and, just think, if you start today you could feel like a completely new person just like Ana.

"My groups are meeting virtually during Lockdown - Brentford on Mondays, Kensal Rise on Tuesdays and Hanwell on Wednesdays.

To join call Lisa on 07944 806624. For more information, motivation and recipe ideas visit slimmingworld

• Findings, published in the journal Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, suggest that people with diabetes who access appropriate support are able to manage their weight through healthy lifestyle changes. The study, championed by Audley Health Centre in Staffordshire, involved 69 patients who were referred to a Slimming World group by their diabetes specialist nurse. These patients attended up to 12 funded weekly Slimming World group sessions and were offered a second 12-week referral if they achieved a 3% weight loss. By 12 months, patients on average, had lost a clinically significant 5.5% of their weight showing Slimming World is effective for patients with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, 20% of patients achieved more than a 10% weight reduction with many participants seeing improvements in glucose control and remarkably, six patients were able to reduce or stop taking their diabetes medication altogether. Read the full paper here:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/edm2.45 About Slimming World Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell (OBE, FRSA) in 1969, and celebrates its 50th birthday year in 2019. There are now more than 19,000 weekly groups supporting 900,000 members across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Groups are run by a network of 5,500 community-based Slimming World Consultants, who receive specific training in the role of diet and physical activity in weight management, as well as sophisticated behaviour-change techniques. Slimming World's healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on the science of satiety and energy density. Our phased activity programme, Body Magic, eases members into activity until it becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine. The principles behind Slimming World's philosophy are based on a deep understanding of the challenges faced by overweight people and recognition that those who struggle with weight carry a double burden, the weight itself and a burden of guilt and shame about their weight. Slimming World's programme integrates practical, up-to-date advice with a highly developed support system based on care and compassion, and Consultant training focuses on facilitating behaviour change in a warm and friendly group environment. Consultant training is delivered through the Slimming World Academy. Slimming World also invests in a comprehensive research programme to develop its support for long-term weight management. The group support provided by Slimming World is recognised as effective by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the NHS. For more information about Slimming World's approach visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or call 0344 897 8000. Follow Slimming World on Twitter at www.twitter.com/slimmingworld or become a Slimming World fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/slimmingworld For the Press Office please email [email protected]