A WEE COUNTY mum was spurred into losing weight after being diagnosed with diabetes at the same time her son was told he had autism.

Claire McInroy dropped 48lbs and four dress sizes after being told by doctors that she had type 2 diabetes with her sugar levels six times higher than what they should have been.

Not only was Claire battling her own health issues, but her eight-year-old son was diagnosed as autistic and had ADHD to compound her struggles.

However, after undertaking a rigid exercise and healthy eating regime, Claire managed to reverse her diabetes and sleep apnoea.

The 39-year-old said: “We had been fighting for our son for years as we knew there was something that hadn’t been picked up, and we finally received the diagnoses that he was autistic when he was eight.

“At the same time, my own health was proving to be an issue, I was suffering from sleep apnoea and had recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I have since reversed these conditions, I have been clear of diabetes for four years and I no longer suffer from sleep apnoea.”

The mum-of-two said she knew she had to make changes and take control of her health so she could be there for her children.

“If I didn’t do something I would have become seriously ill, or worse, and I couldn’t do that to my boys when all I needed to do was change my lifestyle. I could take back control of myself.”

Claire used a number of methods in her weight-loss battle, including Weight Watchers and burlesque dance class – and this autumn she and her classmates will take to the stage.

“I can’t quite believe I am doing it, I would never have had the confidence to do this before,” she said.

“I now realise that you can have this confidence at any age or size but I am using this as an extra incentive to work my way further to my goal weight.”