Tom Watson health: How the former British politician reversed his type 2 diabetes
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Former deputy leader of the Labour party Tom Watson managed to shift seven stone, which turned his type 2 diabetes diagnosis around. How did he manage to lose all that weight?
The Global Diabetes Community identified Tom, 53, as a “prominent low-carb diet” campaigner.
Speaking to the Diabetes Digital Media’s Low Carb Program[me], Tom admitted he once was prescribed medication for the condition.
“When I was first diagnosed I was utterly crestfallen” he said. “My blood glucose had probably been high for months, if not years.”
Deciding to turn around his deteriorating health, Tom decided to cut out sugar, processed foods and starchy carbohydrates.
“As soon as I came off sugar, the weight started to come off,” he revealed.
“The brain fog lifted from my body, and I just started feeling better and better every day.”
Having been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2017, by June 2018 Tom had lost six stone.
It wasn’t only diet that played a huge role in his diabetes remission, so did exercise.
He committed to walking 10,000 steps every day, moving on to jogging and cycling.
By September 2018, Tom announced that he had put his type 2 diabetes into remission.
This meant his blood sugar levels had stabilised and he no longer required medication to manage his condition.
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“A low-carb diet changed may life,” Tom admitted. “There are millions of people who could do what I’ve done.”
Speaking to those who have currently undergone a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, Tom said: “Do not panic.”
He encouraged: “You can sort this out. There are things you can do to get your life back.”
Starchy carbohydrates
The British Nutrition Foundation pointed out “starchy foods include bread, pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes, breakfast cereals, oats, rye and barley”.
Conversely, the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) reported starchy carbohydrates weren’t linked to weight gain.
Instead, they warn about portion sizes and combining starchy foods with high-fat ingredients.
Examples of high-fat ingredients include butter (on bread), or creamy sauces (with pasta).
Thus, their scientific review suggests that it was Tom’s practice of cutting out sugar radically influenced his weight loss and diabetes remission.
Diabetes UK testify that “sugar doesn’t directly cause the condition”, and can be found naturally in healthy foods.
Examples include honey, smoothies, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
However, being overweight increases a person’s risk of developing the condition.
Weight gain happens when you consume more calories than you burn off throughout the day.
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