Ann Middleton, 73, was presented with the ‘Campaigning and Influencing Award” in recognition of her work raising awareness and helping to improve the care and support for people living with the condition.
Ann was diagnosed with late onset Type 1 diabetes 23 years ago whilst working as a podiatrist in a specialist diabetes foot care team. Having worked closely with diabetes patients for many years, her own diagnosis gave her a whole new perspective on the challenges people living with her condition face, day in and day out
Ann said: "It emphasised for me how important patients’ voices are when it comes to diabetes care. Your condition is with you all the time. You take it on holiday, to work, to the gym and to bed at night, so it is important to listen to the needs of people living with diabetes. By working together with our dedicated healthcare professionals, we can achieve the best possible quality of life for everyone with diabetes.”
Ann has provided a powerful voice for many years as a campaigner, highlighting the importance of better care and psychological support for people with diabetes.
Having participated in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes in 2016 as a patient voice, Ann took the opportunity to highlight some of the issues affecting her local constituency with her MP. This contributed to improvements in specific areas of diabetes care strategy.
She received the award in National Volunteers Week, the annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK, on 6June.
Stephen Ryan, Head of the North at Diabetes UK said: “Ann’s hard work and commitment has helped raise awareness of the importance of patients’ voices as well as empowering others to have a say in their care.
Her breadth of knowledge and commitment has had a huge impact in helping raise awareness of how essential good diabetes care is.”
