Alan Jones reveals he has lost weight after pre-diabetic diagnosis

BROADCASTER Alan Jones has revealed he was a “breath away” from developing diabetes and has dropped weight to stave off the disease.

Alan Jones said he does not have a sweet tooth but that he was fatigued and piling on weight.

SHOCK jock Alan Jones has revealed he was a “breath away” from developing diabetes and has dropped weight to starve off the disease.

The broadcaster took to the airwaves yesterday morning to make the shock announcement that he is among an “epidemic” of pre-diabetic Australians at risk of developing the debilitating disease.

Jones, who said he doesn’t have a sweet tooth, was fatigued and piling on weight before a doctor diagnosed him as insulin resistant.

“(The doctor) said ‘right, sit down I’ll tell you what the issue is, you have become insulin resistant and you are a breath away from becoming a diabetic and this is serious stuff,” Jones said.

“I said ‘how any other people are in this boat?’ A lot, he said this is an epidemic.”

Jones said he changed his eating habits to curb his risk of diabetes.

“Suddenly we had to try and get the sugar out of the system and I had to change. I’m not on a diet, I eat a lot of stuff and I’m never hungry,” he said.

Jones was “forced” into making the health revelation after a listener called up to comment on his recent weight loss.

“I never intended to say what I’ve said this morning but we have been debating here whether I should say it because people have been commenting ‘is he sick, has he got cancer, what’s wrong with him? That’s the story, and it’s related to diabetes.”

“And I think people have to go along to their doctors and say, particularly with prostate cancer as well get a PSA blood test, and get a blood sugar test to see whether or not you aren’t in that risk area,” he said.

Diabetes NSW prevention educator Sue Leahy praised Mr Jones for speaking out and hopes it will encourage others to get tested.

“Pre diabetes can be quiet silent, there are not necessarily signs or symptoms that you can put your finger on,” she said.

About 1.7 million Australians have diabetes and up to 500,000 are living with the disease but are not diagnosed.

“Sometimes it takes high profile people to bring that awareness into that community,” she said.

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