A SALISBURY man says he reversed his Type 2 diabetes and turned his life around after adopting a new best friend.

This time last year, Ron Lightfoot, aged 59, was suffering from Type 2 diabetes and battling depression after several life events affected his mental health.

The combination of his physical and mental health problems led Ron to retire from his job as a firefighter at MOD Porton Down, where he’d worked for 30 years.

Ron said: “The back end of 2017 was not a good time for me personally. My state of mind suffered after a bereavement and a relationship breakdown, and I had no reason to get up and get out of the house.

“I had also suffered from Type 2 diabetes since 2011 and my doctor urged me to do something about both my diet and activity levels to try and reverse it.”

In January 2018, newly-retired Ron visited the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in Newton Tony and fell in love with the first dog he set eyes on – Charlie, an eight-month-old Lurcher.

Since adopting Charlie, Ron has lost three-and-a-half stone and managed to reverse his diabetes as a result of long walks with his new best friend.

Ron added: “Adopting Charlie has been the best decision I have ever made – he has given me years of my life back.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, Charlie has not only done wonders for my physical health, but having a reason to get out of bed has improved my state of mind. He is a cheeky chappy and makes me laugh every day.

“Now my days are full of walking and talking, which they definitely wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for Charlie. I feel like a better person since he came into my life. He genuinely has helped my soul.”

Call Dogs Trust on 0300 303 0292 to find out more about adoption.