A MAN who topped the scales at 27 stone just 18 months ago has said being diagnosed with type two diabetes turned his life around.

Since doctors told him he had the condition, 31-year-old Adrian Stewart has lost five stone and feels fitter than ever before.

He is now setting his sights on an even bigger challenge, trekking the Great Wall of China in aid of Diabetes UK.

Adrian, of Green Meadow, said: “I was diagnosed about 18 months ago, I was a bit depressed about it to begin with, I thought my life was over.

“But then I realised that loads of people have diabetes and still live a normal life – the doctor offered to give me medication for it but he also said there was a harder path which was to get on a diet and lose weight.

“I decided to take that option - I set myself the challenge and since then I’ve lose five stone.

“I’m a lot healthier and my diabetes is stable.”

Adrian credits the diagnosis with giving him the shock he needed to make the changes to his lifestyle.

He added: “If it wasn’t for what the doctors told me I would be in a very different situation now, I would probably be heavier and still sitting in the house a lot not being active.”

While five stone is an impressive amount of weight to lose, there is no special secret or breakthrough diet technique at work.

Instead Adrian has made changes that he believes he will be able to maintain in the long run.

“I don’t like fad diets, if I could offer any tips to other people in my position it would be to make changes you can still see yourself doing in 20 years or for the rest of your life,” he said.

“The changes I made include making my own meals rather than buying ready-made stuff from shops, knowing what’s in your food and controlling portions.

“I’ve got into cooking as well since starting this diet which I enjoy now.”

Adrian’s next challenge will be even greater still, he has decided to trek the Great Wall of China and to raise money for Diabetes UK in the process.

The challenging journey will take five days to complete with participants walking for four to seven hours each day – the route involves thousands of stairs, crumbling rocks and steep climbs not to mention the punishing heat.

Despite not being able to begin to imagine such a challenge even a year ago, Adrian is determined to succeed.

He said: “I set myself this new goal of trekking the Great Wall of China because I want to show people that just because you have type two diabetes, especially if you got it like I did through eating badly and being overweight, you can still do something about it.

“It will be hard but I am looking forward to pushing myself through it.”

To follow Adrian’s preparation, or to support his fundraising efforts, visit https://www.justgiving.com/Adrian-Stewart3