I attended my first volunteer training session in 2019, and from that moment onwards, I never looked back.
Meet Muhammad Qureshi
Muhammad has been a Community Champion with us for 6 years. He shares what volunteering means to him and how he has raised awareness of the importance of diabetes health checks.
Motivations for volunteering
My motivation to volunteer for Diabetes UK comes from a very personal place. Coming from a South Asian background, I have seen first-hand how common diabetes is within our communities and how deeply it can affect families.
Ten years ago, my father was diagnosed with diabetes. Over time, this led to congestive cardiac failure as a result of diabetic cardiomyopathy. I still remember being by his side in the intensive care unit, watching him courageously and patiently fighting through a serious cardiac complication. Thankfully, with God’s grace and the right treatment and medication, he continues to manage his condition well today.
That experience changed me. It made me realise how important early awareness and education are in preventing type 2 diabetes and its potential complications. I decided that no son should have to see his father go through what mine did, and no father should have to develop diabetes when it can sometimes be prevented. That belief became the driving force behind my journey into volunteering with Diabetes UK and why I want to make a difference in the lives of others.
Becoming a Diabetes UK volunteer
My journey into volunteering with Diabetes UK really began long before I joined the organisation. Coming from a background in public health medicine, I have always been passionate about health education and health promotion, and over the years, I have had the privilege of working with a number of UK-based charities. But the real turning point came thanks to my fellow Community Champion, Mr Rafiq, who introduced me to Diabetes UK.
At the time, I was searching for a meaningful platform to contribute to diabetes awareness, which was a cause I felt deeply connected to. Diabetes UK offered me exactly that. I attended my first volunteer training session in 2019, and from that moment onwards, I never looked back.
Since then, I have had the pleasure of working alongside an incredible group of volunteers and Community Champions. Together, we have created opportunities to engage with communities, spark conversations, and ultimately make a difference in how people understand and manage diabetes.
Helping people to access better diabetes care
Supporting people to access diabetes essential care has genuinely become one of the most fulfilling aspects of my volunteering. I have had the privilege of working closely with Steph, our Engaging Communities Officer, to reach communities across Slough and Windsor, and I have also partnered with the South East Coast and London team. Together, we have been committed to helping people understand their diabetes more clearly and encouraging them to take up regular diabetes health checks.
Although these checks are straightforward, their impact is enormous. They pick up early warning signs, prevent complications, and empower people to live healthier, more confident lives. Sadly, many still miss out, which is exactly why our role as volunteers matters so much.
To make health checks more accessible, I collaborated with a local health team last year to bring a mobile health clinic directly to employees at the Progress Business Centre in Slough. The turnout exceeded expectations, with many individuals receiving checks they had been delaying for far too long.
My background in health and social care management has also enabled me to support care homes and extra care schemes across Slough, Windsor, and London. I initiated a ‘Diabetes Ready’ campaign and managed to reach over 75 elderly residents and care workers. It was encouraging to see how many of them felt more informed and confident afterwards, and even more inspiring to witness some make meaningful, life-enhancing changes to their daily habits.
Stand out highlights and successes
There have been many memorable moments during my time with Diabetes UK, but a few stand out.
One moment that has stayed with me was supporting an elderly gentleman with diabetes. He loved drinking regular cola (sugary carbonated drink) each day. Through a gentle, person-centred conversation, alongside guidance from his nutritionist, we explored simple alternatives that still honoured his preferences. He agreed to try diet cola, and with steady encouragement over the following months, his HbA1c improved so significantly that his doctor reduced his Metformin dose by half. Seeing his pride and renewed confidence was incredibly moving, and it reminded me that meaningful change often begins with one compassionate conversation and a shared willingness to try something new.
Another memorable moment was when I was invited by a local charity in Slough to deliver a talk on Ramadan and diabetes. After the session, one of the attendees approached me to specially thank me for delivering such an insightful session. She shared that she had been living with diabetes for years, yet had never fully realised how important early preparation and awareness were, especially during Ramadan.
Hearing how the session had given her clarity, confidence, and a sense of reassurance was incredibly humbling, and it reinforced why culturally tailored education can have such a profound impact.
A further highlight was the overwhelmingly positive response to the mobile health clinic I helped organise at the Progress Business Centre in Slough. One attendee shared feedback that truly stayed with me: “I really appreciated this initiative as it gave me the chance to finally check on my health, which I had put off for too long. With how busy life gets, activities like this help us identify issues early and take action. I hope it becomes a regular service.” Hearing this reinforced just how impactful it can be when we take health services directly into workplaces and make preventative care easier, more accessible, and part of everyday life.
Future plans for volunteering at Diabetes UK
I absolutely plan to continue volunteering! My commitment to this cause continues to grow, and I am excited about what lies ahead.
I am eager to take part in more community initiatives, spreading awareness and championing local support. One of my biggest aspirations is to help establish a local Diabetes Action Alliance and a Diabetes Support Group for people in Slough to offer spaces where individuals can access support, share experiences, and build confidence in managing their condition.
I have also begun working closely with our Engaging Communities Officer, Steph, to deliver diabetes organisational training across workplaces. I am keen to continue to expand this, ensuring that major employers in Slough prioritise diabetes awareness and support their workforce effectively.
Ultimately, my hope is to help create a community where diabetes awareness is embedded, health checks are normalised, and every person feels empowered to manage their condition.
If you’ve been inspired by Muhammad’s story, you can find out more about volunteering and raising awareness of diabetes health checks.
