A Mount Vernon woman who was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2023 has managed to get back to pre-diabetes level.

Isabel Scott, 76, was determined that she didn't want to take medication for her Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).

Instead, she controls her condition through a careful diet and physical activity.

Her diagnosis of T2D came just after successfully battling breast cancer among other health issues like sciatica and arthritis.

During a regular visit to her GP for a bout of vertigo, she was advised to get her glucose levels checked.

Isabel Scott lost more than 2 stone  (Image: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

The results put her in the T2D bracket, with a HBA1C score of 64.

She said: "I was quite shocked as, while I was carrying some extra weight, my size never really felt like an issue.

"My HBA1C score, which is the point scale that they measure your glucose on, was 64, putting me into the T2D bracket.

"After everything that I had just gone through, I knew that I didn’t want to take medication for this.

"I asked my GP what my options could be, and they referred me to the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Control It Plus program."

The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Control IT Plus program, accessed via their Type 2 Diabetes Hub, is a lifestyle program that supports people diagnosed with or at risk of developing T2D.

The program offers a range of initiatives, including cooking workshops, Live Active and Weight Management services.

She joined Weight Watchers through the program's weight management service, and she also replaced her regular commutes on public transport with walking.

She said: "I went through the full Control It Plus program and the Weight Watchers membership was fantastic as it helped me to not only lose weight, but also swap the foods that would impact my glucose.

"I learned to balance things out.

"I also found that I didn’t need to be hitting the gym for excessive exercise.

"I just got moving.

"Instead of taking the bus to the Forge to meet my sisters, I would walk there.

"Walking totally changed my body shape."

With these lifestyle changes, she went from a size 16 to a 10 to 12, losing more than two stone, and lowering her HBA1C level to 46.

Looking forward to her 46th wedding anniversary and a family cruise for her husband's 70th birthday, she admitted managing weight during holidays can be challenging, but she has learned to navigate them.

She said: "NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been amazing for me over the past few years.

"From my cancer treatment to my Type 2 Diabetes, I’ve really leaned on them and received the care that I needed.

“My advice to anyone that has received a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis is, keep battling, keep fighting, and do what you do best as you might surprise yourself.

"I know that I did."

Dr Emilia Crighton, NHSGGC director of Public Health, said: "Control It Plus can be used by those who are on medication or those who are choosing a path like Isabel.

"Our aim is to provide people with the information and tools that they need to self-manage their condition where possible, as we understand that everyone’s circumstances vary.

“We also have our Type 2 Diabetes Hub which is free and can be accessed online in sections that work for people as and when they wish to visit it.

"The hub hosts information to help anyone who needs support to self-manage their condition or support a family member or friend in doing so.

"It includes information on what Type 2 Diabetes is, the symptoms, and how it can be managed through diet and lifestyle.

“Through the hub, individuals can access our weight management, nutrition, physical activity services and more.

"It is also where people can find more information on our Control It Plus program.”