World Diabetes Day: Ian’s mission to help 999 colleagues live a healthier life

14 November 2022

A Federation member who is on a mission to help fellow emergency service workers live a healthier lifestyle is stressing how important it is to be mindful of our diets, as he marks this year’s World Diabetes Day.

Ian Cook, a West Midlands traffic officer, is encouraging colleagues to join his online network ‘Blue Light Lifestyle’, a virtual group designed to be a safe and supportive space for those who struggle with their diet and weight.

And in line with World Diabetes Day (Monday 14 November), Ian has told how he has helped an inspector who was at risk of developing diabetes lose almost 40lbs in just 12 weeks, enhancing both his physical and mental health.

“I have a lot of people come to me mentioning the word diabetes, it really is massively common. I actually think there are probably loads of people walking around who don’t know they have diabetes and it’s not until they have a scare, that they make those adjustments,” said Ian, who completed a degree in sports coaching before joining the Force 15 years ago.

“I want to encourage people to be proactive and take action to prevent getting diagnosed, rather than waiting to be told they have diabetes.”

Diabetes is a chronic disease that happens when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin - a hormone that regulates blood glucose - or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

As well as potentially experiencing problems with their eyes, diabetic patients can also suffer from kidney or heart failure, gum disease and potential issues with their feet which could lead to amputation if untreated.

There are two types of diabetes, 1 and 2. Type 1 diabetes is when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, while Type 2 is when the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin.

“People don’t realise that their lifestyle can massively impact whether they are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I want to help people be more mindful of what they’re eating, so they can either prevent being diagnosed or reduce their medication,” added Ian.

Ian explained how he has been working with a pre-diabetic inspector and his wife, helping them to lose a total of five stone in three months.

“This particular inspector had no exercise or nutrition routine, which was massively impacting his life. He didn’t like the way he was feeling, he didn’t like the way he looked and he didn’t feel like he could do his job properly,” continued Ian.

“Together, we started making small changes, which began to make a huge difference. I showed him how we could introduce exercise into his life and be more mindful of the food he consumes. Now he is so much happier and healthier.”

Ian initially launched Blue Light Lifestyle after wanting to use his degree to help fellow emergency service workers and he soon found that due to regular shift patterns, many of his colleagues had become lazy with their diet, which led to them turning to snacking and takeaways. 

Along with working with his peers in West Midlands Police, Ian also supports 999 workers and NHS staff from across the country. 

With 700 people now members of the Blue Light Lifestyle Facebook page, Ian has decided to grow the online community even more by creating an Instagram page. 

He uses the social media platforms to regularly post motivational messages, information and videos to help encourage, support and advise members.

“I want to reach more people, especially as we head into winter. As it gets colder and with Christmas on its way, people lean towards comfort eating and not exercising so much,” he said.

“People are going to get complacent and I get it but I try to remind people what they felt like before they started, to help them never lose focus.

“And it’s not just people who are at risk or have diabetes, everyone has their own individual goals. I want to help people introduce new habits into their lives and stick to them. It’s all about making small changes and being consistent.”

Coinciding with World Diabetes Day, Police Mutual has created a free downloadable factsheet for members, packed full of information on diabetes.

Ian will also be posting content around the campaign specifically to support people who have or are at risk of having diabetes.

As a result of the Blue Light Lifestyle group, Ian also offers one-to-one support for those really struggling with their diet and weight. Capacity-dependent, Ian will create a paid-for, 90-day plan for clients, with the main goal to change their attitude to food and exercise long-term. 

Find out more about Blue Light Lifestyle by joining the Facebook group or following @Bluelight_lifestyle on Instagram.