It was completely unrelated to the course but a few days afterwards I was admitted to hospital with shortness of breath. I had to stay in for 11 days. But as I’d already started to lose weight, I was in a better position to deal with it.

I’ve now got over that and am in reasonably good health. But it was a wake-up call. I realised it had to be a life-changing process. 

And it’s made me even more determined to keep the weight off and lose more. My computer records show I’m now on day 415 of my weight loss. I’m now 95KG (15 stone) and I want to get down to 85KG (just over 13 stone). The last 10KG (1.5 stone) are proving really difficult to lose.

I’ve seen huge benefits in terms of my basic health from the weight loss. I have much more energy and I’m able to get out and about more and do more things. I’ve always been quite active and done things like mowing the lawn – it’s quite a big garden! But now I don’t feel exhausted.

Activity

I’m now at day 450 of my step counting and still going strong. I’ve been average more than 11,000 a day for the last 11 weeks.

This has been helped by a walking mat I use at home that one of my children got me as a Christmas gift. They’re relatively small and inexpensive and you can get on and do as many steps as you like. It’s been brilliant – particularly when it’s too cold or wet to go out.

Postive feedback

I’ve been noticeably drowning in my clothes so I’ve been giving them away to the local charity shop and I’m starting to get some new ones.

Friends and neighbours occasionally comment about the change in my appearance. This kind of positive comment can reinforce your determination to carry on making the effort.

And I’ll be going back to the doctor to check my HbA1c in another year.

From my experience last year, I feel I know what works for me and I’m very much across what foods I can eat, paying particular attention to the ingredients within foods.  

I will be fasting this year, focusing on spiritual preparation rather than just food. During Ramadan, I will try to strengthen my connection through reading the Quran and practicing patience and consideration, even though fasting can make this challenging at times.

My advice would be to fast if you’re able to but remember there are medical exemptions so you should do what is best for you and your body, as fasting when living with diabetes and other chronic conditions means you need to think about your health and prepare in advance. 

If you want to fast, speak to your healthcare team well before Ramadan starts to ensure you can do so safely.

Islamic teachings emphasise that if fasting is detrimental to your health then you should use the exemption - it's there to protect your wellbeing, not as a ‘get-out’ clause, it's actually there for your own personal benefit, to safe guard your health.

This year, while my intention is to fast, I recognise the importance of listening to my body and to respond appropriately if I am unable to do so. Ramadan is not about punishment, and it can be embraced in many other ways, through family, community, and empathy for those who have less, helping us appreciate what we have.

Following my diagnosis I had a couple of weeks off school and was supported on my return with time at the end of lessons to administer my medication. 

At home, my parents carefully carb-counted my meals and regularly checked my blood sugar levels. I didn’t find the adjustment to this new routine too difficult at first, as I was mostly with family when I went out and had their guidance and support.

As I grew older and entered my teenage years, managing my diabetes became slightly more challenging, particularly when socialising with friends and not always knowing the carbohydrate content of certain foods. 

This meant learning what I could eat, asking questions about ingredients when necessary, and becoming more aware of how different foods affected how I felt and my blood sugar levels.

Ramadan and fasting

The month of Ramadan has always been a special time for my family and on occasion, I’ve attempted to fast however found this extremely challenging as my blood sugar levels would fluctuate significantly, becoming both too high and too low. This made fasting unsafe for me and often left me feeling unwell.  

I’ve therefore come to accept that fasting is not an option for me at this time. It's important to note that Islam recognises medical conditions and has exemptions for those whose health would be negatively impacted by fasting and this includes diabetes. While it took time to come to terms with this reality, I recognise that prioritising my health is essential.

Fasting holds deep spiritual and communal significance, and not being able to participate fully can be frustrating. Having to repeatedly explain to others that I cannot fast due to my health, particularly when asked multiple times a day, can feel like a constant reminder of my limitations.  

However, I am growing in confidence in how I address people’s perceptions and now view my situation as an opportunity to share my experience and raise awareness and understanding.

Ramadan  

During Ramadan, it's very important for me to remain engaged with my family and to make a meaningful commitment to the month in a way that works for me. 

I wake up early with everyone else to begin the day with prayer, although I don’t eat at that time as its far too early for me. Instead, I have breakfast at my usual time, followed by a small snack around midday, and then share dinner with my family at the end of the day.

As a family, we prepare for Ramadan by sitting down together to create a 30-day meal plan, which we follow closely. This approach allows me to participate fully in the spirit of Ramadan while also managing my health responsibly.

The main thing for me is that my family and friends can enjoy breaking their fast together and being able to open the fast with people you love and care about is very special.  

I feel Ramadan really brings the community together, and we’re enjoying different kinds of foods and conversations on each day throughout the holy month.  

And when we remember that many people around the world go days or weeks without food—not by choice, but through lack of access it highlights how privileged we are.  and allows us to reflect on that vulnerability and recognise the comfort, security, and blessings we are fortunate to have in the UK.

Giving back during Ramadan  

Ramadan isn’t only about fasting for 30 days it’s also about reflecting on your life and making changes that you aim to maintain throughout the year. It’s a time of reset, when you can reassess what matters, make improvements, and then carry those intentions forward.

Even though I’m unable to fast during Ramadan, I can still take part in its spirit by committing to spending less time on my phone and more time connecting with my family and community.   

I focus on learning more about my religion, growing closer to God, and becoming more aware of global issues by giving to charity and supporting those in need.

Ramadan is ultimately about mindset, gratitude, and my personal growth — not just abstaining from food but becoming a better person.

If, like me, you’re unable to fast, Ramadan can still be observed in meaningful ways:

• Giving back through charity and helping those in need 
• Strengthening your faith through prayer and reflection 
• Practising kindness through volunteering and supporting others 
• Raising awareness about type 1 diabetes to promote understanding and inclusion within the community.  

The Joy of Eid  

Despite any challenges I may face during Ramadan, the celebration of Eid al-Fitr is something that we all look forward to. Eid is big part of the ‘Ramadan Season’. 

Eid al-Fitr is the Islamic celebration that comes after the month of Ramadan has passed when families come together and celebrate.

But a year later, my mindset changed when I knew I was getting married. 

I was adamant that I wanted to lose weight as I was planning a wedding and thinking about being a bride. I wanted to wear a dress I felt comfortable in on my wedding day and have self confidence and higher self esteem.

And over the next 2 years, I lost five-and-a-half stone and by the time I got married my HbA1c was down to 29mmol/l.  

I lost weight by going to Slimming World. I liked it because no food was off limits. My partner encouraged me. And once I put my mind to something I’m very loyal to the process and do it as much as I can. 

I felt great and could go into a shop and buy clothes off the rail without worrying if they’d have my size. We got married and went on honeymoon and a year and a bit later Covid hit. 

That threw me completely and I went from that five-and-a-half-stone weight loss to putting on seven-and-a-half stone. And unsurprisingly my HbA1c was back in the prediabetic range (42 mmol/mol to 47 mmol/mol) .

What I’m truly hoping is that we’ve bought Imogen more time before she fully develops type 1 diabetes and needs insulin therapy.

I’ve told Imogen that having diabetes won’t stop her living the life she wants to. She can still eat sweets, spend time with her friends, and do everything she wants. But it does take that extra care and effort to manage life with diabetes and keep yourself well. 

If we can give her a childhood where she doesn’t need to think about that yet – especially over adolescence, which is already a hard time – that will mean everything.

We feel incredibly lucky and grateful that we got this opportunity. It all happened because I clicked on a Facebook link and found out about the ELSA study. Now I always encourage my friends who are parents to take part.

"Imogen took part in the study to further research and help others, but it has helped her too – being forewarned is being forearmed."

She was always going to develop type 1 diabetes, but through ELSA we’ve been able to slow down the process and prepare – we know what is coming, but we're not scared.

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Reach out for support

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