Andrew Savage
Drew's Asics Greater Manchester Marathon 2015 page
Fundraising for Diabetes UK
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page - I'm happy to say that despite having to do the last 9 miles basically on one leg, I completed my first marathon in 3:52:44.
Now why on earth did I do that?
You'll probably know that I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in March 2013. My GP wanted to put me on tablets for it straight away, saying that they only had one patient at their practice who managed to control Type 2 by diet and exercise alone. So I took up running, lost a stone in weight, and sorted out my diet. They now have two.
When I run, I'm not just trying to beat my previous best time - I'm trying to beat diabetes. It was only my stubborn refusal to do what my GP suggested that's kept me healthy without needing to go on pills.
3.2 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes - that's 6 per cent of the population, plus an estimated 620,000 who have it but don't know it yet. But in my experience, the support offered by the NHS for diabetics is patchy to say the least - great in places, not so great in others.
I've had to learn about Diabetes to understand how to deal with it myself - which is where the work of organisations like Diabetes UK is vital: providing information, advice and support, campaigning to improve the quality of care across the UK's health services, and funding pioneering research into care, cure and prevention.
Oh, and if you have many of the four major symptoms (excessive thirst, fatigue, excessive urination, or blurred vision) then please get yourself to your GP and ask for a blood test. It was the best thing I ever did, ending six years of being perpetually knackered.
Thanks for reading this far, and if you do donate, thank you very much.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Now why on earth did I do that?
You'll probably know that I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in March 2013. My GP wanted to put me on tablets for it straight away, saying that they only had one patient at their practice who managed to control Type 2 by diet and exercise alone. So I took up running, lost a stone in weight, and sorted out my diet. They now have two.
When I run, I'm not just trying to beat my previous best time - I'm trying to beat diabetes. It was only my stubborn refusal to do what my GP suggested that's kept me healthy without needing to go on pills.
3.2 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes - that's 6 per cent of the population, plus an estimated 620,000 who have it but don't know it yet. But in my experience, the support offered by the NHS for diabetics is patchy to say the least - great in places, not so great in others.
I've had to learn about Diabetes to understand how to deal with it myself - which is where the work of organisations like Diabetes UK is vital: providing information, advice and support, campaigning to improve the quality of care across the UK's health services, and funding pioneering research into care, cure and prevention.
Oh, and if you have many of the four major symptoms (excessive thirst, fatigue, excessive urination, or blurred vision) then please get yourself to your GP and ask for a blood test. It was the best thing I ever did, ending six years of being perpetually knackered.
Thanks for reading this far, and if you do donate, thank you very much.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.