A COUPLE has lost twelve stone between them following a diabetic wake-up call.

Paul and Denise Donnelly from Garway in south Herefordshire decided it was time to lose weight when Paul was told he would need to start injecting insulin to control his diabetes.

He said: “I had been on seven different medications for high blood pressure and diabetes since 2011 and when the nurse told me I’d need to start injecting I felt sick.

"To hear that I wouldn’t be alive at 50 was enough to shock me in to making the changes I needed to."

Paul had Type 2 diabetes, which is often associated with obesity, and is far more common than type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition often diagnosed in childhood. 

He was told by medical professionals that weight loss would dramatically improve his health issues and Denise decided to lose weight with him.

Paul said he no longer has diabetes and has come off all of his medication due to his weight loss. 

Before they joined a weekly weight management plan called LighterLife in Hereford Paul weighed 17st 2lbs and Denise weighed 16st 3lbs.

Paul, 44, now weighs 10st 9lbs and Denise, 43, weighs 10st 13lb. 

Paul said: "LighterLife has saved me from a pattern of yo yo dieting. I feel that both myself and Denise have reached the point where we have made a change for life. It is amazing to know I am looking after my health and no longer feel like a burden on the NHS."

The husband and wife duo run their own online craft business, Charming Beads.

Denise added: "I can’t believe I was happy at a size 22. I can 100 percent say we will not be going back.

"It still feels completely bizarre picking up a size 12 on the high street after shopping online for so long."