Grandfather's simple changes reversed pre-diabetes diagnosis that left him 'petrified'
Dance teacher Will McKechnie, from Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, told SWNS he had always considered himself healthy.
At 5 feet 10 inches tall and 167 pounds, he wore a medium-sized shirt, danced seven times a week, and didn't think twice about his daily snacks: a chocolate bar and a bag of chips.
"I honestly thought I was really fit and healthy," McKechnie said.
But after undergoing a free screening for people over 60 in May 2023, a routine blood test showed that his average blood sugar level was 6.2% — an indicator of pre-diabetes, according to SWNS.
McKechnie didn't find out until a year later, during an unrelated appointment, when his doctor reviewed the results.
"I was so shocked and worried to hear I was pre-diabetic," he said.
McKechnie continued, "When he said it wouldn't be reversible over 48, I was terrified. I was petrified at the idea that I might be starting to have poor health."
Determined to turn things around, McKechnie made some major changes — not only in what he ate, but how.
He cut out the nightly chocolate and chips, started eating whole, nutritious foods, and began chewing his food much more slowly.
Now, his lunch — a wholemeal chicken sandwich — takes him 40 minutes to eat.
"I just have a very occasional treat now, and much smaller," McKechnie told SWNS.
His breakfast now consists of fruit, and a typical dinner includes boiled eggs, roasted peanuts, celery, cherry tomatoes, carrots and cucumber.
By focusing on slower eating and more mindful food choices, McKechnie shed nearly 27 pounds, bringing him down to 142 pounds and a size small shirt.
"I honestly thought I was really fit and healthy."
He also lost two inches off his waist — and, more importantly, his blood sugar dropped to 5.9% within nine months, SWNS reported.
"I'm very determined," McKechnie said.
He added, "If I set my mind to doing something, I'll do it, and I'm going to get my blood sugar even lower."
The grandfather of four said he no longer battles sugar cravings and doesn't feel the urge to rush into stores for a chocolate fix.
He also stays busy caring for his 18-month-old grandson and teaching two dance classes a week.
McKechnie, who quit smoking in 1986 and stopped drinking in 2012, believes everyone should be proactive about checking their health — even if they look healthy on the outside.
"Even if you have to pay for it, it's worth getting your blood sugar checked routinely," he told SWNS, adding, "It's much, much better to find out."
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
According to SWNS, McKechnie now says he feels stronger than ever and has "enormous amounts of energy."
"I'm so relieved I had that test. It has changed my life and made me so much fitter."
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So, if we stop the stomach from producing acid - by taking a PPI - the theory is that we will stop the acid coming back into the oesophagus and causing heartburn and reflux. READ MORE: Mum had shoulder pain - now she has 'to make the most of what I've got' READ MORE: Heartbeat legend favourite to play lead detective in Death in Paradise-style spin-off 'There's often a discussion about whether heartburn is related to low or high stomach acid. But actually it's to do with the timing of the stomach acid. While stopping your stomach producing that acid can be beneficial in the short term, it's not always great for your digestion in the longer term as we need that acid to break down our food. 'It can be helpful to have omeprazole if you've got gastritis or erosion in your oesophagus, but if you've only got simple heartburn-related problems, longer term it can have greater impacts on the body.' Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus, often causing heartburn - a burning sensation in the chest or throat. Normally, a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter prevents this, but if it weakens or relaxes at the wrong time, acid can escape and irritate the oesophagus. Triggers include stress, excess weight, eating too quickly, or consuming alcohol, caffeine and chocolate. Pregnancy hormones can also raise the risk. While reflux is uncomfortable, stomach acid is essential for digestion. It activates pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins, and helps soften food. It also protects against harmful microbes in food. Mrs Grayson said low stomach acid may increase infection risk and hinder absorption of key nutrients like Vitamin B12, iron, calcium and magnesium. 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'This means that the body has to play catch up, exacerbating symptoms' In another video shared on her platform, Mrs Grayson recommended 'disconnecting from technology and doing some alternate nostril breathing' - which can help with switching on your digestion and reducing reflux. She also said to avoid trigger foods, such as peppermint, chocolate, coffee, citrus and tomatoes and leave a gap between eating and sleep, as lying down with a full stomach can trigger reflux. Mrs Grayson said a window of three hours between your final meal and bedtime is optimal. Mrs Grayson has previously spoken about the damaging impact of omeprazole, discussing how it can make symptoms worse in the long-run and can make someone become dependent on it. She said: 'We are sleepwalking into a significant culture of PPI addiction due to over-prescribing without clear reason and failure to give patients a clear exit strategy from the treatment.' Research shows up to 40 per cent of patients do not respond to a PPI, so the drug is rendered useless in those cases.
