A Barrhead woman has told how learning about Type 2 diabetes through NHSGGC’s Control IT Plus (CIP) programme helped put her on the path to remission.
Sharon Donegan, 52, works as a Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) for the School Nursing Team in East Renfrewshire. She’d been feeling lethargic, shaky and out of sorts in early 2025 and was devastated when blood tests revealed Type 2 diabetes and pernicious anaemia.
Sharon said: “My GP prescribed Metformin and explained the various appointments I’d have for my feet and eyes, and I asked if there was anything else I could do as I had watched my mum go through Type 2 diabetes, become insulin dependent and have lots of complications.
“The GP put me in touch with NHSGGC’s Type 2 Diabetes Hub, and they signed me up for the Control IT Plus online sessions.
“I got a wealth of information and a booklet sent out with all the info from the sessions. I would have been lost without it and Control IT Plus helped me realise that if I made some changes to my diet and lifestyle, there was a chance I could put my diabetes into remission.”
Control IT Plus is an information and support programme for people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, helping them to better understand and self-manage their condition.
By attending two online sessions, Sharon understood how simple steps like losing weight, changing her diet and exercising could positively impact her condition and open the door to remission.
She added: “I immediately made a conscious decision to change my diet to lose weight. I did this by myself at the start, but I was then referred to the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Service.
“I got free access to Slimming World, and I managed to lose two and a half stone over the next few months. I have now successfully put my diabetes into remission and reduced the need for medication, lowering my HBA1C levels from 72 to 39.
“It hasn’t been easy and I couldn’t have done this without the support of Control It Plus and the T2D Hub. These were vital services in my own journey, and I would recommend that anyone with a diagnosis of prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes attends the sessions to take on board the advice and support offered.”
Geraldine Lucas, Health Improvement Lead for the Type 2 Diabetes Hub at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Nobody chooses diabetes and it isn’t anyone’s fault but if we share information and learn about how it affects us, we can better control it and reduce its impact on people’s lives.
“That’s what Control IT Plus is all about and Sharon’s story shows how structured education combined with sustainable weight loss support can empower people to take control of their health and, in some cases, even achieve remission.
“I would encourage anyone who has concerns about their risk of type 2 diabetes, or who has recently been diagnosed, to speak to their GP or healthcare professional about the support available.”
If you’re like Sharon, and worried about Type 2 diabetes, take the following steps:
- Visit NHSGGC’s Type 2 Diabetes Hub online for more information or call 0141 531 8901 (Open Monday to Thursday, from 8.00am – 4.00pm and Friday 9.00am – 3.30pm) or email: ggc.type2diabeteshub@nhs.scot
- You can self-refer to the Weight Management Service if you have a BMI over 25 (22.5 for patients with South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern ethnicity) and are living with diabetes, heart disease, or have experienced a stroke.
- Visit www.nhsggc.scot/weightmanagement for more information or speak to your healthcare professional.
By seeking the right care at the right time, Sharon accessed:
- Her GP and primary care team
- NHSGGC’s Type 2 Diabetes Hub
- Control IT Plus structured education programme
- Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Service.
