Lisa George health: Dancing on Ice star’s health battle pushed her to join the ITV show

Lisa George, 50, has always been determined. The actress played the ex-girlfriend of Steve McDonald in Coronation Street and it was only intended she would play in two episodes of the show, however, producers were impressed by her abilities and later brought her back as a regular cast member. Producers weren’t the only people impressed by her work ethic as she was nominated for Best Newcomer in the annual TV Choice Awards. Lisa once again showed her determination and strength when she was told she had a serious and potentially fatal health issue which spurred her on to compete in Dancing on Ice.

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• Type 2 diabetes: The sign when you move your fingers to watch out for

The actress revealed she suffers with type 2 diabetes which is a condition that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to function properly, or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin.

The condition is often associated with obesity and could be life-threatening if not properly managed.

Lisa revealed that diabetes runs in her family. Her mother Muriel and father Kenneth both have diabetes.

Speaking to Express.co.uk back in 2014, Lisa said: “Doctors said I need to exercise and drop some weight.

“I thought I’d better get right on it, so I’ve been using the MyFitnessPal app and logging what I eat. I’ve started power walking and I’ve got an exercise bike that’s no longer just a clothes hanger.”

How can exercising help with type 2 diabetes?

Exercise can be a meaningful tool to reduce a person’s blood glucose levels. When a person uses their muscles, they need more fuel to stay active.

In patients without diabetes, glucose is taken in from the blood stream while a simultaneous rise in the liver’s glucose production keeps the muscles supplied with fuel.

However, when type 2 diabetes is present, the liver may not match the muscle’s need for glucose, which can result in a lowering of the glucose level with moderate exercise.

Thus, exercise is widely prescribed to treat patients with diabetes.

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How to properly manage type 2 diabetes

The NHS said: “If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll need to eat healthy, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests to ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced.

“You can use the BMI healthy weight calculator to check whether you’re a healthy weight.

“People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes also require regular insulin injections for the rest of their life.

“As type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, medicine may eventually be required, usually in the form of tablets.”

Speaking to the Mirror.co.uk, Lisa revealed her reason for joining Dancing on Ice: “Everyone is saying it will be nice for people to see the real me.

“But actually, I agreed to it because I am turning 50 in October this year, which is a huge deal and I am determined to get fit.

“Instead of fat and diabetic.”

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