My Type 2 diabetes diagnosis saved my life

Before I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes I was not a happy person. I was on the outside, but on the inside I was totally miserable.

I just sat at home, day in day out, eating and watching television for most of the time. I also suffered from depression and anxiety and was treated for both.

I was what I call a 'chocoholic'. I couldn't go a day without my fix of at least two chocolate bars of some kind or another. I screened all my phone calls and eventually lost contact with all my friends. I just got fatter and fatter and with it my self esteem got lower and lower.

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes on 17 June 2005 and I really believe it saved my life. I was very overweight and being treated for high blood pressure and depression, so when I had recurring bouts of thrush I just thought it was one of those things.

When I found out I had Type 2 diabetes, I had what I call my 'kick up the bum' and decided I had to turn my life around. I started eating healthily and losing weight. I vowed to give up sweets, chocolate and biscuits completely.

I am not the kind of person who can have just one piece of chocolate or one sweet, I have to have the whole lot and more. So I gave it all up - which I must say wasn't easy. I had terrible withdrawal symptoms and sometimes it's not easy now - but I won't give in. I have come too far. After a while I started to exercise at home and the weight continued to fall off.

After about seven months I felt confident enough to join a gym which I now go to five mornings a week.

I also came off medication for depression and I am now cutting down my blood pressure treatment. I am much happier and much more confident. I have gone from a plus size 30/32 to a much more healthy size 16/18.

I feel so much better, like I have been in a tunnel and I am now coming out the other end. I have also started contacting old friends and made lots of new ones at the gym so I have a social life which is great.

But the person who has helped me most is my husband. He also gave up chocolate when I did and he is very encouraging. He always says how well I have done and how good I look (although he has always told me this but now I believe him ... well, almost.) My children have also been very encouraging, although they haven't given up chocolate.

When I tell people I am diabetic and they look at me with pity, I say that it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I truly believe it saved my life.

Kim Wood