A BOAT builder has been given a new lease of life after almost developing diabetes.

Kevin Enticknap from Shoreham thought he was reasonably fit and healthy but when he went to his doctor with chest pains his GP detected high sugar levels in his blood.

She referred him to the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention programme and Mr Enticknap has not looked back since.

After just four sessions he had lost 9lbs and could bend down and tie up his shoelaces for the first time in years.

The 63 year old, who also works for a building company, said: “Being told by my doctor that I was borderline diabetic was not the best day of my life, especially having very sadly lost my cousin to a diabetic related problem.

“The information I have received from the course has made me re-think my lifestyle, including my eating habits in a totally different way and what a difference it has made to me both mentally and physically.”

Mr Enticknap regularly attends diabetes prevention sessions near his home which look at the causes and remedies of Type 2 diabetes, encourages patients to achieve a healthy weight, be physically active and eat a balanced diet.

He said: “The course has been amazing with lots of information presented very clearly and lots of answers to my questions.”

Healthier You was launched in West Sussex last September and in the last ten months almost 1,000 have been referred on to the free programme.

Chairwoman of the South East steering group for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme Alison Barnett said: “Type 2 diabetes can have a major impact on people and their families.

“Complications can include heart disease, damage to your vision, kidney disease and foot problems.

“But you can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by making a few simple lifestyle changes.

“When people get invited for an NHS health check I would encourage them to attend.

“If their blood sugar is high and indicates they are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, they should to ask their GP to refer them to the Healthier You prevention programme.”

Almost 70 courses are currently being run across Sussex by the company Ingeus.

Operations lead Ian Reddington said: “More than three million people in England already have Type 2 diabetes and that number is rapidly rising.

“The programme is making great progress in supporting people to understand their risk of developing diabetes and to make the lifestyle changes needed.”