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Graeme's story: Raising awareness with One Million Step challenge

Graeme Smith Diabetes UK story

Graeme Smith

Diagnosed age 43.

I had been living with Type 2 diabetes for a number of years and this is what had caused the damage to my heart.

Graeme will be taking on the One Million Step Challenge a year after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes following a heart attack. Graeme, who works in cyber security for Bentley Motors, is taking part because he wants to raise awareness of type 2 diabetes and encourage people to make healthier choices with their food and also get more active. He's been preparing for the challenge by walking along a canal near his home with his family. 

 

Diagnosis

Unexpected diagnosis

Out of the blue, I suffered a heart attack last year and my consultant asked me why I had not mentioned my type 2 diabetes. That was the first time I realised I had the condition. I had experienced no symptoms like being thirsty or going to the toilet a lot and there was no family history.

Shockingly my consultant told me that looking at the damage to my heart. He believed I had been living with diabetes for a number of years and that this is what had caused the damage to my heart.

I was a little overweight and my job is deskbound, so I certainly didn’t do as much exercise as I should, but we eat healthily as a family and yet this was happening to me in my 40s.

Activity

One Million Step Challenge

I had a triple heart bypass in August and since then I've started making sure I take regular exercise to get fitter and healthier, to manage my diabetes. I've lost two stone and have even inspired a few of my colleagues to also take on the challenge with me.

 

You can take on the One Million Step Challenge with Graeme by registering using the link below.

Register today

Or you can support Graeme directly by visiting his challenge profile page.

Graeme's challenge page

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