Jessica's story: I lost weight with the help of a type 2 prevention course

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes quite late in my second pregnancy, but I was able to manage it through diet alone and didn’t require any medication.

After my baby son was born, my glucose levels returned to normal, and no further treatment was needed. However, while I was still in hospital, it was mentioned that having gestational diabetes put me at a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future, which really worried me. So, at my six-week post-partum check-up, after having my HbA1c blood test, I asked at my GP surgery to be referred for an NHS type 2 prevention course.  I was soon enrolled onto the online England course for women who have had gestational diabetes. 

Going on the course

I first heard about the course while in hospital following my diagnosis with gestational diabetes. So it was already on my radar as something I might want to pursue. I was pleased to get a place on the course and really enjoyed all it had to offer.  

Sometimes it was challenging to find the time, especially when needing someone to look after the children. I wanted to have the space to listen properly and to be present with what other people were saying, so childcare could be tricky at times, but I was lucky that my partner has a flexible job and was able to help. 

"Occasionally I would have the baby with me, and everyone was so understanding, and we all just got on with it."  

The course was so incredibly worthwhile, and I’m so glad I invested the time in it. I got a lot out of it, and being part of a warm and supportive community made a huge difference. The group was made up entirely of women, and because the course was tailored specifically to our experiences, everyone was very understanding and encouraging.  We all came from different backgrounds, so it felt like a genuine cross-section of society.

I knew I needed to make changes to my diet. 

"I’ve always been an active person, but my weight had been steadily creeping up, and after the birth of my second child, it reached the highest it had ever been." 

I made a firm commitment to completing the course because I felt it was now or never, and so that became my motivation. 

My risk of developing type 2 diabetes was also higher due to a strong family history of diabetes, and having seen firsthand how devastating diabetes can be, I felt determined to do everything I could to reduce that risk. 

Getting results

At the start of the course, we each set our personal targets. Some women didn’t have any weight to lose, but in my case, I had a fair amount I wanted to work on. I set myself the goal of losing 10% of my body weight by the end of the course  — and I achieved it. 

Because the course focused on long-term, sustainable changes rather than crash dieting, it all felt very manageable over the extended period. The advice was practical, realistic, and genuinely helpful for making better long-term choices.  

The course helped me rebuild a healthier relationship with food, particularly around nutrition and portion sizes, and gave me a much better sense of control.

"Losing weight gradually over time showed me that the changes I was making were truly sustainable. It wasn’t about being perfect or chasing points — it was about discovering what genuinely worked for me."

There was even a section on takeaways and convenience foods, acknowledging that these are part of modern life. The course leader offered simple swaps and straightforward advice for eating out, which made everything feel achievable rather than restrictive.

The benefits extended beyond me and had a positive impact on the whole family — from making healthier food choices to becoming more active in our daily routine.  

My children now see me exercising as well, not just their dad, which feels like really positive role modelling, especially as we have two boys, and so it's good for them to see me doing other things like exercise and not always in the kitchen making the meals.

The course lasted about a year in total. The first few sessions were a few weeks apart, and then it switched to monthly meetings, adding up to roughly nine months overall. (Find out about type 2 prevention courses where you live).

One additional point I want to highlight is that although I was losing weight during the course, my average blood sugar levels (HbA1c) were still rising, which prompted investigations from my GP. 

After having some hormonal tests, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). A feature of PCOS can be insulin resistance, a condition strongly linked to diabetes but not widely discussed, which means symptoms can be missed. 

If it hadn't been for the course, these investigations would never been done, and PCOS would never have been picked up.

I’m now having treatment for PCOS. Thanks to that and the changes I’ve made since the course, I’ve so far been able to prevent developing type 2 diabetes.