“I’ve lost 9st and my diabetes has gone into remission!”

Jennifer Marshall, 42, from Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, had struggled with her weight since the loss of her partner in 2009 and sought comfort in food to cope with her grief.

Weighing more than 18st at her heaviest, Jennifer’s mental health was at an all-time low and she was suffering with symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). When her GP diagnosed her with type 2 diabetes, she knew she needed to make a change.

Retail Manager Jennifer says: “I had very little confidence, and I definitely held myself back at work and missed out on going for promotions. I stayed in my comfort zone as I was so afraid of people judging me because of my size.

“I’ve always struggled with my weight, and it spiralled after the loss of my partner. I locked myself away and turned to food. I knew I was putting on too much weight so I tried a lot of different diets, but I just couldn’t get on with them.

“After my doctor diagnosed my type 2 diabetes, I was scared and wasn’t sure how it was going to affect my life. I knew losing weight was the only way to improve my health and help me to manage my type 2 diabetes.

“Some of my friends had recently joined Slimming World and were doing well, so I thought I’d tag along. I was nervous and I felt embarrassed that I had let myself get to the size I was. I didn’t need to worry though – my Consultant Irene put me at ease straight away and, in the members, I found a lovely group of people who were willing to help and support me. They shared their experiences with me every week and never judged mine.”

Since joining Slimming World in January 2021, Jennifer lost 8st 13.5lbs in just over a year and a half and has maintained it since. She has gone from a size 24 to a size 10, her PCOS symptoms are less severe and she was told her type 2 diabetes was in remission.

She says: “I couldn’t believe it when my doctor told me that my blood sugar levels were below the diabetes range – in fact, I don’t think he could believe it either! I’ve completely transformed my health by changing what I eat.”

Jennifer, who lives with her husband John, says: “My husband does a lot of cooking, and he loves the Slimming World recipes too. We still enjoy our favourite dishes such as curries and spaghetti Bolognese by making healthy swaps like using lean mince and adding a lot more vegetables into dishes. Most importantly for me, I found the eating plan flexible, and I was easily able to tailor it to the advice I'd been given from my healthcare team around managing my type 2 diabetes.

“As well as changes to my diet, I now have so much more energy. I go to exercise classes and walk every day. Losing weight has also helped me build relationships with my niece and nephew. Before I would shy away from taking them anywhere fun like the trampoline park, go-karting or theme parks. Now though, you can’t stop me – I think I’m sometimes a bigger kid than them!

“I was also a carer for my Gran who was living with dementia before she sadly passed away last year. Losing weight meant that I could better support her, which was a great motivator – if I didn’t help myself, how was I going to help her?”

Jennifer’s also embarked on a new adventure in her career – training as a Slimming World Consultant and she now supports members in her own group each week. She says: “If I can do it, I believe anyone can, which is why I decided to become a Slimming World Consultant myself. Helping my members and seeing them achieve their goals is the best role in the world!”

Jennifer shares her story as Slimming World and Diabetes UK announce a three-year partnership.

Slimming World, the UK and Ireland’s leading weight management provider, and Diabetes UK, the UK’s largest charity for people living with diabetes, are coming together to share expertise on weight loss, long-term healthy eating and diabetes. In partnership, they aim to support people living with diabetes and those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes to manage their weight in a way that works for them through collaborating on resources, producing co-branded recipes and sharing expertise.

Jennifer's Before Menu

Breakfast: Nothing

Lunch: Fast food meal

Dinner: Indian takeaway with all the trimmings or a ready meal

Snacks: Three or four chocolate bars across the day, crisps and six cans of pop

Jennifer's After Menu

Breakfast: Weetabix with skimmed milk and fruit

Lunch: Scrambled egg on wholemeal toast

Dinner: Homemade spaghetti Bolognese followed by fruit and meringue

Snacks: Apples and chocolate

Jennifer runs her Slimming World  group every Thursday at Stepps Parish Church in Glasgow at 4.30pm and 6.30pm. For more information or to find your nearest group, visit slimmingworld.co.uk.