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HEALTH CHECK

What type of diabetes does Sue Cleaver have?

SUE Cleaver is known and loved by fans of Coronation Street, having played Eileen Grimshaw since 2000.

But behind-the-scenes the actress has endured a battle with diabetes, which saw her take drastic action to change her life.

Soap star Sue Cleaver has diabetes
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Soap star Sue Cleaver has diabetesCredit: Splash

Which type of diabetes does Sue Cleaver have?

Corrie and I'm A Celebrity star Sue Cleaver has Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is when your pancreas makes insulin that does not work properly, or your pancreas cannot make enough insulin.

Insulin is a hormone that is released by the pancreas to regulate our blood sugar levels.

If there is not enough insulin being produced, or the insulin your body makes does not work properly, your blood sugar levels rise.

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When blood sugar levels are too high, this condition is called hyperglycaemia.

According to the UK's leading diabetes charity, , symptoms of hyperglycaemia include;

  • passing more urine than normal, especially at night
  • being very thirsty
  • tiredness
  • thrush or recurring bladder and skin infections
  • headaches
  • blurred vision
  • weight loss
  • nausea and vomiting

But with the proper treatment, type 2 diabetes can be managed and people can live healthy lives.

Some people manage their type 2 diabetes through healthier eating, however most rely on medication such as insulin injections or Metformin tablets to lower their blood sugar levels.

However, anyone who has this condition must keep an eye on their health and have regular check-ups.

This is because type 2 diabetes can lead to:

  • Heart disease and stroke
  • Loss of feeling and pain (nerve damage)
  • Foot problems – like sores and infections
  • Vision loss and blindness
  • Miscarriage and stillbirth
  • Problems with your kidneys

When did Sue Cleaver lose weight?

Back in 2011, Sue had to be rushed to hospital for treatment after collapsing on the Coronation Street set due to her diabetes.

A source told The Sun at the time: "Sue was looking pretty off at around 9am just as we were getting things ready for filming.

"Then all of a sudden she just seemed to collapse and everyone was panicking.

"The on-site medics were called and they were very quick to get to her."

Following this health scare, The Sun reported in 2016 how the actress made drastic changes to her diet to lose weight.

She now follows a low-sugar, Mediterranean diet and is gluten-free.

In 2019 she showed off her amazing weight loss when she attended the press night of The Full Monty in Manchester.

The Corrie star had dropped an incredible three stone, going from a size 16 to a size 12.

What has Sue said about her diabetes?

Sue is a big supporter of the charity .

She has spoken in the past, supporting the charity and their work.

While previously supporting Diabetes Week, she told Diabetes Advice: "Having a good control of diabetes is really important - after all, people with the condition live with it every day, taking care of their diet and physical activity."

The star was also involved in the launch of a sight-saving service based at The University of Manchester.

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This service aimed to reach the 100,000 people in Greater Manchester with diabetes to visit their GP and have their eyes tested for diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes.

Although Sue does not appear to talk about her condition in interviews often, a source told The Sun: "She's in this for the long game and wants to live a long, happy and healthy life."

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