Latest news with #LythamStAnnes
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Grandfather's simple changes reversed pre-diabetes diagnosis that left him 'petrified'
A 66-year-old grandfather who exercised daily was stunned to learn he was pre-diabetic — and he says making one small change to his eating habits helped reverse it. 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. Experts Reveal Hidden Ways Sugar Accelerates Aging Beyond Just Weight Gain "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. Read On The Fox News App 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. 'I'm A Neurologist — Here's Why Dementia Is Rising And How To Reduce Your Risk' 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. Golfer Phil Mickelson's Strict Weight Loss Diet: Doctor Shares What To Know 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. 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. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "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 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."Original article source: Grandfather's simple changes reversed pre-diabetes diagnosis that left him 'petrified'
Fox News
16 hours ago
- Health
- Fox News
Grandfather's simple changes reversed pre-diabetes diagnosis that left him 'petrified'
A 66-year-old grandfather who exercised daily was stunned to learn he was pre-diabetic — and he says making one small change to his eating habits helped reverse it. 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 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."
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Slim, superfit man diagnosed with deadly 'fat person' condition - common late night habit was to blame
Dance teacher Will McKechnie thought his trim figure and the fact he exercised seven times a week meant he was perfectly fit and healthy. But the 66-year-old was shocked when medics warned him that his blood sugar were so high he was prediabetic. The condition—suffered by millions unknowingly—is a precursor for potentially deadly type 2 diabetes and frequently linked to being overweight and obese. Mr McKechnie, from Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, said he was floored by the diagnosis as he has prided himself on being active and was a svelte 11st 13lb. 'I was petrified at the idea that I might be starting to get poor health,' he said. 'Before I heard that I just thought everyone sometimes has a bit of high blood sugar. 'And before that, before the blood test, I honestly thought I was really fit and healthy.' Mr McKechnie's condition was revealed during an NHS 'over 60s MOT' which discovered his average blood sugar levels were 44 mmol/mo—considered prediabetic, and just below the threshold for full blown diabetes. Mr McKechnie, from Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, said he was floored by news he had prediabetes as he prided himself on being physically active He now says he's changed both what and how he eats to bring his blood sugar levels under control and with great success Any reading between 42 and 47 mmol/mo is considered prediabetic and above 48 mmol/mol is the diagnostic criteria for type 2 diabetes. 'When he (the GP) said it wouldn't be reversible over 48 (mmol/mo) I was terrified,' Mr McKechnie recalled. The grandfather-of-four said he had wrongly assumed his active lifestyle meant he could eat whatever he wanted and admitted to tucking in to a Yorkie chocolate bar and packet of crisps each night. He now says he's changed both what and how he eats to bring his blood sugar levels under control and with great success. As well as cutting down on unhealthy snacks he also made effort to chew his meals slowly, which he says helps him feel fuller without eating as much. He says it now takes him 40 minutes to eat his typical lunch of chicken sandwiches on wholemeal bread. 'I loved eating Yorkie bars and crisps, and ice cream. I just have a very occasional treat now, and much smaller,' he said. In the nine months since making the changes his average blood sugar levels have dropped down to 41 mmol/mo meaning he is no longer considered prediabetic. He also lost just under two stone, and trimmed two inches off his waist. 'I'm so relieved I had that test. It has changed my life and made me so much fitter,' he added. Mr McKechnie said he originally had the blood test back in May 2023, but his GP only warned him of his prediabetes status a year later when looking over the results. As such he's encouraging other Britons to consider getting a test. 'Even if you have to pay for it it's worth getting your blood sugar checked routinely. It's much much better to find out,' he said. Mr McKechnie was lucky to be told he had prediabetes as the condition normally causes no symptoms, according to charity Diabetes UK. If symptoms are present, they can include going to the toilet more often, fatigue, losing weight without trying, genital itching, minor cuts taking longer to heal, blurred vision and extreme thirst. An estimated 6.3million Britons— about one eight of the population of England—are thought to have prediabetes with the vast majority unaware they have the condition. While those most likely to develop the condition have known diabetes risk factors such as being overweight or older, younger and slimmer people can also have the condition. Diabetes UK estimates that about half of cases of prediabetes can be prevented from developing into type 2 diabetes if patients make adjustments to their diet and lifestyle. Diabetes is a potentially deadly illness which costs the NHS £10 billion a year to treat. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't make enough insulin or the insulin it makes doesn't work properly. This hormone is needed to bring down blood sugar levels. Having high blood sugar levels over time can cause heart attacks and strokes, as well as problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. Sufferers may need to overhaul their diet, take daily medication and have regular check-ups. However, the term prediabetes isn't without controversy. In fact, the inventor of the term Dr Richard Kahn, former chief scientific adviser to the American Diabetes Association recently claimed that doing so was 'a big mistake'. Patients diagnosed as prediabetic have also given a mixed assessment of the term. Earlier this year the Mail On Sunday reported how some patients said a diagnosis had 'saved' them while others said it had left 'frightened to death' about what they could eat.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bolton man's plea to council after they 'unfairly fine' him and his disabled wife
A Bolton man says he's been fined unfairly after parking in a disabled spot while on a seaside day out. James Abercrombie, 48, was in Lytham St Annes with his wife Rachel,46, who has fibromyalgia and uses a wheelchair, for a visit to a food festival. Mr Abercrombie, who lives in Deane, says that when the couple, who have a blue badge on their car, arrived at the resort's council-operated St Pauls Avenue car park, he pulled into a disabled bay, meaning that, according to the council's rule he did not have to pay for a ticket. To his surprise, though, a few days after he returned home from their day trip, he received a parking ticket and was ordered to pay £25, with a letter claiming that he was parked in a non-disabled bay. Read more: Read more: Private car park rule change to reduce fines for UK drivers Read more: 8,000 parking fines issued at Bolton Market car park (Image: Supplied) Mr Abercrombie says the pictures attached to the letter show his Skoda is parked in a disabled bay with hatched markings visible to the side of the car. A picture of Mr Abercrombie's Skoda parked up on the day he visited (Image: Supplied) "Either Fylde Council are blind and can't see I'm parked in a disabled bay, or they have just thought they'll have a stab at taking my money," the 48-year-old said. The couple have been fined an initial £25 for the ticket, which Mr Abercrombie hasn't paid and is disputing, but this will rise to £50 if not paid by May 28. St Pauls Avenue Car Park (Credit: Google Maps)He added: "We'd just come to Lytham for a food festival, and this has happened. "My wife has suffered with cancer and has fibromyalgia, so I push her around on a wheelchair, we just wanted to meet some friends and have a coffee. "You'd think Fylde would want to welcome disabled people for a more diverse audience, but clearly not. Mr Abercrombe says he parked in the middle spot marked with a wheelchair (Image: Supplied) "I could have parked on the double yellows, as we have the right to with a disabled badge, but that would inconvenience other drivers." Mr Abercrombie added: "If we have parked in a non-disabled bay, then it certainly wasn't clearly marked, and if so, why are there only two disabled bays if that's the case?" Fylde Council has been contacted, but has chosen not to comment. Their website states: "If you park in a designated disabled bay [with a blue badge] you can park free of charge for up to 3 hours." The Bolton man says that they were not parked for longer than three hours, and a letter from Fylde Council suggests they believe he parked in a non-disabled bay.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lancashire woman finds rare venomous centipede in flat
A young woman has spoken of her shock after finding a venomous centipede in her Armour said she spotted the "strange creature" on her kitchen wall after she returned from a late shift at 19-year-old later found the many-legged minibeast was a rare Scutigera coleoptrata, which uses venom to kill its prey but is not harmful to humans."I had never seen anything like it before. After asking my co-workers, we figured out it was a house centipede," she said. Steve Gregory, who runs the British Myriapod and Isopod Group's recording scheme, said the Scutigera coleoptrata was commonly known as the house said the species originates from the Mediterranean and, at present, can only survive our cold winters inside Gregory said sightings of the insect, which uses its venom to subdue and feed on flies and spiders, are becoming more common in Britain. He added that people who end up unintentionally hosing one do not not need to worry as they are not dangerous to humans."Although once very rare, it is expanding its range, possibly due to climate change," he said."There were only three known sightings up to 1990, about 30 sighting between 1990 and 2020, and in 2024 there were over triple this number. "These are mostly from southern England, but in recent years it has been seen as far north as Lancashire and Yorkshire."Ms Armour, who moved to Lytham St Annes from Scotland two years ago, said she enlisted a brave colleague to help her catch the creature and released it."From what I've learned, house centipedes are harmless and actually beneficial because they prey on other household pests," she said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
