ITV The Chase star Mark Labbett's chronic health condition was only discovered after nurse asked 'are you sure'

Quiz master Mark Labbett was spurred into losing a massive 10 stone after a troubling health diagnosis. The star has become a fan favourite since joining ITV show The Chase back in 2009.

Outside of the show, the Beast has opened up about his chronic health condition. The 59-year-old was told he had diabetes in 2017, despite never experiencing a 'diabetic episode' due to low blood glucose.

The star was only diagnosed when a nurse who noticed his skin was having trouble healing on his legs. The diagnosis prompted him to make significant lifestyle changes that led to a 10-stone weight loss.

Read more The Chase star Darragh Ennis' life away from show with mystery wife

He previously said: '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?'

"They took a test and she said, 'Yes, you're diabetic.'" Following the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, Mark transformed his lifestyle, dropping from 29 stone to 19 stone.

Type 2 diabetes, according to the NHS, causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness. Many people have no symptoms.

It also increases the risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, feet, heart and nerves. Talking about how the condition led to his weight loss journey, Mark previously shared: "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.

"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 previously appeared on Loose Women, where he shared that a friend had advised against getting a gastric band, explaining: "I'm not a drinker, but sugar has always been my downfall.

"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."

He further shared: "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."