The Chase star Mark Labbett shed ten stone after nurse asked 'are you sure'

Quiz maestro Mark Labbett, known to many as 'The Beast' from ITV's The Chase, has shed an impressive 10 stone following a concerning health diagnosis. Since becoming a household name on the quiz show in 2009, he has won over audiences with his quick wit and knowledge.

However, it was a chronic health condition that led him to open up about his personal life. Diagnosed with diabetes in 2017 without ever having a 'diabetic episode', the 59-year-old realised the need for change when a nurse noticed his legs were not healing properly.

"I've got skin that doesn't heal properly in my lower legs. A nurse looked at me and she asked, 'Are you sure you're not diabetic? '" he recalled. "They took a test and she said, 'Yes, you're diabetic.'" This wake-up call spurred him to overhaul his lifestyle, resulting in a drop from 29 stone down to 19 stone.

Type 2 diabetes, which is characterised by high blood sugar levels, can lead to serious complications if left unmanaged, warns the NHS. Symptoms can include excessive thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue, though some people may experience no symptoms at all.

Reflecting on his weight loss journey, Mark has expressed his satisfaction with the results: "This is the lightest I've been in 25 years. I'm now under 20 stone, and I am really feeling the difference, as well as seeing it", reports Birmingham Live.

"My knees really feel the difference. I will never be athletic again but I just move so much better for not carrying that extra weight."

Mark, who previously appeared on Loose Women, discussed his weight loss journey, revealing a friend's advice against a gastric band: "I'm not a drinker, but sugar has always been my downfall."

He added, "A good friend of mine who had the gastric band said it won't do any good for me as I get all my calories by sugar, and it's too easy to digest. 'I still have sugar but an awful lot less. I should have less still."

Mark also shared his clothing size transformation: "I am gradually dropping Xs off my size. I've gone from 5XL to 4XL, and it looks like the next time I go shopping, I'll be able to squeeze into XL underpants. I've lost 10 stone. I was 29 stone when I was a full-time teacher in 2003, and I was in danger of high blood pressure."