A woman with genetic diabetes who was told her weight was putting her health at risk lost 2.5 stone and launched a slimming group.

Tessa, from Spencers Wood, was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes aged 23 and struggled to manage the condition.

After changing her diet during the pandemic, she has lowered her blood pressure and cholesterol level.

“I’m so happy, actually pretty proud of myself too. Especially in the time of Covid, this makes me even more grateful for this decision I made just over a year ago.”

Reading Chronicle: Tessa before changing her diet in 2020Tessa before changing her diet in 2020

She continued: “Honestly, every day I’m so thankful.

“For the first time in forever I’m not overweight. From a diabetes point of view, that’s made a difference to my blood sugar control but also from a Covid point of view, I feel that being healthier has kept me safer too.”

Tessa trained as a consultant with Slimming World and launched her own Burghfield group in January 2022.

“Slimming World absolutely had a big part to play in my new life so I feel like this is a celebration not just for me but for our Group too."

Reading Chronicle: Tessa one and half years after making changesTessa one and half years after making changes

Sharon Morgan, who runs Slimming World’s Calcot group said: "With Tessa’s experience of being a successful Slimming World member and her kind and warm personality and great sense of humour, I just know that she’ll be an amazing support to members, cheering them all the way to their target weight.”