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Geoff Whitington’s diabetes was so severe, doctors warned him they might have to amputate his leg. His sons decided it was time to get him back on track
Two brothers have helped their “extremely stubborn” father reverse his diabetes, making changes to his lifestyle which have seen him drop five stone.
Before the project, Geoff Whitington weighed 20 stone, surviving on a diet of takeaway meals and little exercise.
His type 2 diabetes had reached such a stage that doctors warned they might have to amputate the 62-year-old’s leg.
But his sons Anthony and Ian decided it was time to help their father, first taking him on a trip to rural Spain, where the three men went cycling, climbing and skydive training - as well as addressing the problems in Geoff’s diet.
Anthony and Ian have since made a short film chronicling their father’s transformation, called Fixing Dad.
"A few things led to us starting the project," Anthony told the Huffington Post.
"The first was Dad's realisation that he might need to have his foot amputated if he continued on the same path. So fear played a big part.
"The second was that Dad had seemed to become a different person - not his usual bubbly self, but withdrawing from conversations and generally very depressed.
"And thirdly, we felt guilty, being honest, that for so long our own careers, ambitions and our own family pressures had stopped us from really knowing the man who made us who we are today."
A year after the sons first staged their intervention, Geoff’s consultant told him he was diabetes-free.
The three men now give speeches at medical conferences and diabetes clinics, to educate others on how the condition can be managed through lifestyle changes.
Anthony added: "To families everywhere we'd like to say: if there's someone you love who is in a bad way, don't put it off, act now to help them. Don't have regrets later.
"However busy you are...remind them how much they mean to you, give them goals and regular contact, and above all be positive that you can beat it and enjoy life together."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Unfortunately I can't embed the video just follow the link, it's only 4 mins long.
Two brothers have helped their “extremely stubborn” father reverse his diabetes, making changes to his lifestyle which have seen him drop five stone.
Before the project, Geoff Whitington weighed 20 stone, surviving on a diet of takeaway meals and little exercise.
His type 2 diabetes had reached such a stage that doctors warned they might have to amputate the 62-year-old’s leg.
But his sons Anthony and Ian decided it was time to help their father, first taking him on a trip to rural Spain, where the three men went cycling, climbing and skydive training - as well as addressing the problems in Geoff’s diet.
Anthony and Ian have since made a short film chronicling their father’s transformation, called Fixing Dad.
"A few things led to us starting the project," Anthony told the Huffington Post.
"The first was Dad's realisation that he might need to have his foot amputated if he continued on the same path. So fear played a big part.
"The second was that Dad had seemed to become a different person - not his usual bubbly self, but withdrawing from conversations and generally very depressed.
"And thirdly, we felt guilty, being honest, that for so long our own careers, ambitions and our own family pressures had stopped us from really knowing the man who made us who we are today."
A year after the sons first staged their intervention, Geoff’s consultant told him he was diabetes-free.
The three men now give speeches at medical conferences and diabetes clinics, to educate others on how the condition can be managed through lifestyle changes.
Anthony added: "To families everywhere we'd like to say: if there's someone you love who is in a bad way, don't put it off, act now to help them. Don't have regrets later.
"However busy you are...remind them how much they mean to you, give them goals and regular contact, and above all be positive that you can beat it and enjoy life together."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Unfortunately I can't embed the video just follow the link, it's only 4 mins long.
