A mother of two from Manchester reversed her type 2 diabetes and shed more than seven stone after a humiliating holiday incident where a plastic deckchair collapsed beneath her.
Turning point in Lanzarote
Michelle Siderfin, 47, had struggled with her weight since having her children Jonathan, now 29, and Kerri, now 26. She spent years yo-yo dieting but always regained the weight. In 2016, during a family holiday in Lanzarote, she sat down on a patio chair for a drink when the back snapped, causing her to hit her head on the paved floor. The moment left her mortified as onlookers stared. She ran inside and cried, vowing to make a lasting change.
From size 20 to size 8
After the incident, Michelle joined Slimming World in August 2018. She learned to cook balanced, lower-calorie meals and stopped relying on takeaways. By January 2025, she had dropped from 16 stone 6.5 pounds to 8 stone 9.5 pounds, going from a size 20 to a size 8. Her joint pain and breathlessness disappeared, and she no longer needs insulin to manage her diabetes.
Health transformation
Michelle said: "Before losing weight, living with type two diabetes was scary. My diet was all over the place. Now my blood sugar is at a normal level, and I feel I’ve taken back control of my health." She also noted that small changes made a big difference. Her previous diet included Danish pastries, crisp sandwiches, and takeaways; now she enjoys wholemeal toast, homemade soup, and balanced meals like beef hotpot.
Becoming a consultant
In April 2025, Michelle became a Slimming World consultant to help others. She said: "I want people to know change is possible when you are kind to yourself and have the right support. Reaching my target weight felt like winning the lottery."
Michelle, from Whalley Range, now encourages others not to feel ashamed and to make sustainable lifestyle changes. Her story was shared for Diabetes Week.
