'I Changed My Diet To Avoid Diabetes'

When chef Giancarlo Caldesi discovered he had high blood sugar levels, he knew he was at risk of type-2 diabetes. With the help of his wife, Katie, he overhauled his diet, lost three inches around his waist and feels better than he has done in years

For someone whose career has been focused on food since an early age, having to rethink what he eats hasn’t been easy for Giancarlo Caldesi. He grew up in Montepulciano, in southern Tuscany, and has an Italian’s enthusiasm for cooking and shared meals around the table with family and friends. Since 2005, he and his wife, Katie, have run the successful Caffé Caldesi – a café, restaurant and cookery school in London, now with a branch in Bray, Berkshire.

In the past six months, they have added healthy cookery courses to the school schedule, influenced by their desire to learn more about healthy eating since Giancarlo, 61, was told he needed to reduce his blood sugar levels. He and Katie want to share what they have learned with others – not only people with diabetes, but anyone looking for food with traditional Italian flavours and an emphasis on low-GI ingredients – plenty of vegetables and wholegrains.

Giancarlo now feels fit and well, but is frustrated that it took a long time for him to get his diagnosis. ‘I went to see a specialist because I was overweight, and I thought I had gout,’ he says, ‘I knew that something was wrong.