A WOMAN who lost more than six stones in two years has told how she was spurred into changing her life after a close friend died from diabetes.

Jackie Parkinson, 49, of Middlesex Avenue, Burnley, weighed just short of 20 stone at her heaviest in 2010.

But with help from a slimming group in the town, a transformation of her diet and regular exercise she’s now able to fit into high street fashions and says her confidence has been transformed.

Jackie, who begins work at the St Peter’s Centre next week, said: “I have struggled with my weight all my life.

“I have diabetes and tried all different ways to lose weight but none of these worked.

“I really felt like giving up and then I lost my close friend Nicola Boxall to diabetes.

“She was only 39, I knew then I had to do something otherwise I could have ended up like her.

“I joined Slimming World at Rosegrove Unity Working Men’s club and since then I’ve lost weight steadily.”

Jackie said she previously ate one huge meal a day and used alcohol to ‘give me false confidence’.

“I now eat smaller meals of meat, fish, poultry, rice vegetables and fruit,” she said.

“I also have a drink or two at weekends and still lose weight.

“I am now lighter than I was at school, the diabetes is under control and I no longer need medication, I have a new found confidence and have recently got engaged.”

Dave Alexander, who runs the Thursday evening sessions at the Unity Club, said: “When I started as a consultant Jackie had already lost about three stone but had reached a plateau.

“Sometimes a change is as good as a rest and Jackie really got stuck in.”