A NEWPORT woman has overcome diabetes after losing more than nine stone - nearly half of her body weight.

Trudy Smith, of Bettws, went from 22 stone 11 to her new weight of 13 stone eight after joining Newport Live and turning vegan in a bid to improve her health.

Ms Smith was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in January 2016 and decided to take up training with a fitness instructor.

The weight loss has seen the 50-year-old go from a size 32 to a size 16 in tops and from size 28 to size 14 in bottoms.

Her diabetes has now also been marked as resolved, and she no longer has to have steroid injections for pain in her knees.

Ms Smith said the weight loss has made her feel like a “new woman”.

She said: “When I was diagnosed I was told I would have to go on medication but they said to prevent it that I needed to make a big change. I said I would try and make a dietary change. I became vegan and went to Newport Live.

“I became vegan because I had problems with lactose and I wasn’t that keen on meat anyway. I started off swimming at Newport Centre and realised it wasn’t enough.”

Ms Smith said getting a training instructor who made sure she was on the right track was key to her weight loss, and said she is grateful for the guidance she had.

“I couldn’t have done it without the support from the team at Newport Centre, and especially Amanda and Terri,” she said. “They don’t give you your plan and leave you to it, then come and see how you are doing every week. It’s amazing.

“I’ve gone from almost being on medication to my diabetes being resolved. That was the big one. I feel like I can do anything now.”

Newport Live’s sales manager Wendy Peters has praised Ms Smith for her transformation.

She said: “Trudy’s transformation is amazing and inspiring.

“We are passionate about inspiring people to become happier and healthier, and Trudy is proof of what can be achieved with determination and the right support. She’s smashing her goals, and we are all incredibly proud of her.”

To find out more about Newport Live, visit newportlive.co.uk