A TV director who turned his health around after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes is bringing his story to the area in a bid to encourage others to follow in his path.

Eddy Marshall helped to bring some of the UK's most loved soap operas, such as Hollyoaks , Holby City and the last ever episode of Grange Hill , to life on screen.

But the 52-year-old's life was rocked two years ago when doctors told him he had Type 2 diabetes - and that his condition was likely to get worse.

Mr Marshall is heading to Barrow next month - which has one of the worst diagnosis rates in the country - in the hope he can encourage other sufferers of the illness to take change their own fortunes by losing weight and taking charge of their health.

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He will give a free talk on his story at Park Leisure Centre on Monday, January 9 at 7pm followed by another at the Keg and Kitchen, in Grange, on Wednesday, January 11.

Mr Marshall said: "Having done this for myself, I’d now like to make what I’ve learned available to others.

"The good news is that most people can control their Type 2 diabetes through dietary change and very many can reverse it entirely.

"I strongly feel that people don’t have to just accept Type 2 diabetes as a fact of life, that they shouldn’t just shut up and take the medicine."

Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 80 per cent of all diabetes diagnoses in the UK.

It is usually acquired in adult life and is linked to obesity, poor diet and other lifestyle factors.

It is the biggest single cause of blindness and amputation nationwide, and costs the NHS an estimated £14bn a year.

In Cumbria, 51,428 people over the age of 16 in the county are thought to be at risk of developing the illness.

After receiving his diagnosis, Mr Marshall immediately set about transforming his diet and lifestyle by losing more than three stones in weight in five months.

He is now planning a TV documentary on how Type 2 diabetes can be overcome with healthy lifestyle choices.

He hopes people who have been diagnosed will take up the chance to appear on the programme as they follow in his footsteps and tackle the disease head on.

Mr Marshall added: "I'm keen to bring the project to Barrow, as I’ve worked in the town and I know that there’s a lot of poor health there.

"However, there’s also a strong independent spirit, so I think Dia-beat This' might find people who aren’t willing to just accept what they’re told about this terrible illness at face value."

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