NEW Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle yesterday revealed he was diagnosed with diabetes just 10 days before the election.
The senior MP, 62, told how his worried wife Catherine rushed him to the doctors after he shed a whopping three stone in just a matter of months.
Sir Lindsay said his symptoms were off the richter scale and doctors wanted him to stay in hospital, but he refused to miss the election campaign.
The popular MP said he is still in shock at the diagnosis but said he is inspired by Theresa May, who also has Type 1 diabetes.
Sir Lindsay told BBC Radio 4: I knew there was something wrong, I was having tests, I was losing weight. I was losing a pound a day.
But the fact is I was very busy, I was missing meals, the campaign was on.
In the end, my wife said enough is enough. She went down to the doctors and said, can you book him in? There is something seriously wrong.
After they ran tests doctors discovered his ketones a chemical which can build up in diabetics – were off the scale.
‘OFF THE SCALE SYMPTOMS’
He said: They said, we are going to have to keep you in. I said thats impossible, Im in the middle of a general election with ten days to go.
Sir Lindsay – who was elected a Labour MP but as Speaker is politically neutral – replaced John Bercow in the post. He said it has been difficult to accept his new condition.
But he wanted to speak out to show people they can still do high profile and pressured jobs with the condition.
He said: The fact I was going to have to start injecting insulin came as a real shock to me.
I never expected it to happen to me, and to come at such a time it has taken a lot of getting used to.
But I did speak to the former Prime Minister, Theresa May, and she said to me, look if you ever need a chat, you ever want some support.
She was really kind and very considerate and said your life doesnt have to change.
I have got to get on with my life. Ive got a job to do. I take inspiration from others. If they can do it I can do it.
Type 1 diabetes causes blood sugar levels to go too high, but can be managed by insulin injections.
