The new House of Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has revealed he was diagnosed with diabetes days before the general election, and vowed it will not prevent him from carrying out the prestigious role.
Hoyle, 62, said he had lost three stone in recent months and said he was still in shock over the diagnosis.
He said his symptoms were so severe that doctors had advised him to remain in hospital, but he told them he could not because the election campaign was in full swing.
“They said we’re really probably going to have to keep you in. I said well that’s impossible, I’m in the middle of a general election with 10 days to go,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
The former Labour MP said he was “more or less 100% sure” it was type 1 diabetes. “The fact that suddenly I go in and then I’ve got to start injecting insulin came as a real shock,” he said. “Never, ever did I expect it would happen to me. And to come at such a time, it really is taking a lot of getting used to.”
Hoyle said he had spoken to Theresa May, who received the same diagnosis when she was home secretary. “She said to me: ‘Look, if you ever need a chat, if you ever want some support.’ She was really kind, very considerate and said your life doesn’t have to change. And I think that’s what’s so important.”
He insisted the condition would not prevent him from continuing in his role as Commons Speaker. “I’m on tablets as well as having to inject insulin, but it doesn’t stop me carrying on and nothing is going to be a barrier to me,” he told the broadcaster Rob McLoughlin in an interview for a forthcoming series, Mr Speaker, Politics Home reported.
“I’m going to cope with it. I’m going to manage it. I’m going to get through this. The fact is I feel really well. We know what it is, that’s the good news, and of course I have got to get over it and get on with my job. The House of Commons elected me to be the Speaker and there’s nothing that’s going to stop me from doing that.”
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that can cause a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
Chris Askew, the chief executive of Diabetes UK, told Politics Home: “Living with type 1 diabetes can be hard, but as Sir Lindsay’s experiences have shown, with the right support from your healthcare team – and careful management – people can live full and healthy lives following their diagnosis.
“It’s often thought that type 1 diabetes only affects children but, while it’s less common to see someone of Sir Lindsay’s age diagnosed, it can affect a person at any time in their life. That’s why knowing the signs and symptoms of diabetes – the four Ts – can be a life-saver.
“So if you’re going to the toilet a lot, experiencing increased thirst, are more tired than usual, or losing weight without trying, you should speak to a healthcare professional.”
