Vicky, who lives with type 1 diabetes, has been volunteering with Diabetes UK for three years – initially setting up a group to support colleagues at West Yorkshire Police where she’s been a serving officer for 17 years. She joined our Stigma Panel a year ago, helping to shape what we do to tackle diabetes stigma.

“I was a serving police officer when I was diagnosed and while it wasn’t the organisation's fault, there was a complete lack of understanding - particularly around type 1 diabetes and the impact on your role, shift work and reasonable adjustments.”

Vicky talked to a colleague about their collective experiences of diabetes at work and decided to set up a group to support those living with diabetes. Initially just a handful of people, it’s now grown to over 50 members, covering forces across all of Yorkshire and the Humber. The group supports people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as parents of children with type 1.

“There's that support structure in place so that we can share those experiences and things that have happened to us and help other people avoid them in the future – I’ve really seen the benefit of that recently as we’ve had a couple of newly diagnosed members join and that’s been invaluable.”

Experiences at work

As if a diagnosis isn’t enough to cope with, there were a lot of unanswered questions at work that followed.

“It’s quite a big thing because all of a sudden you're thinking right can I still be a police officer? Can I still drive a car with blue lights on? Am I still going to have a job? That had a huge impact on me and when you look around and nobody can tell you – and they don't know the stress and anxiety that causes you is completely off the wall.”

Vicky says that there’s something satisfying about being able to reassure those who are newly diagnosed that it is something they’ll come to terms with and understand how it fits into their life and ultimately do all the same things they’ve done before.

“I want people to have a better experience than I did when I was diagnosed. I was sent home from hospital at 3:30pm on a Friday with a box of Levemir and some Novorapid and told, ‘Right, have a go over the weekend and we'll see you Monday.’”

Vicky’s volunteering with us began because she wanted to make sure the support and information she was giving colleagues was accurate and up to date and not just based on her own experiences. It’s been important to remember that things have changed a lot over the time she’s lived with diabetes. Making sure people have the right information to manage their own diabetes and advocate for themselves has been critical.

Supporting others and tackling stigma

One of Diabetes UK’s key priorities is to tackle the impacts that diabetes stigma has on people, and Vicky’s volunteering has been addressing that, both in the workplace and guiding the charity’s plans for the long term. At work she’s led the way in advocating for herself and others, making sure that misconceptions about diabetes are clarified and that her colleagues have the support they need.

“I think certainly those immediate line managers around me, maybe six or eight senior officers have really understood what having diabetes means and the impact that it can have, and that’s a result of me talking about my condition and what I need to have in place to be confident at work.”

Vicky knows that your health is something that you can’t get back once it’s gone, and so she has needed to make sure colleagues know that diabetes is recognised under the Equality Act. The act states that people living with a long-term health condition are entitled to reasonable adjustments and that can include things like not working night shifts as part of their working pattern.

Vicky has been part of our Stigma Panel since it was formed in early summer 2024 and has played a big role in shaping the work of the charity, not just in 2025 but with an eye on the longer-term as well. Being involved in the panel also gave Vicky the opportunity to talk about her experiences of stigma at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference earlier this year, which she says is one of her proudest moments as a volunteer.

“To get up in front of a large audience of well-educated people and speak about something that's really personal to you… well it was really nerve-wracking. I think sometimes the more personal it is the more difficult it is. So afterwards when people came up to me saying “that was brilliant”, you do get a huge sense of achievement. I tried to make my diabetes into something positive and to think I've made an impact over something that can sometimes have quite a negative impact on me was huge.”

Making sure that both employers and colleagues understand the impact of stigma at work is a big priority for Vicky and making sure that forms part of Diabetes UK’s plans to tackle stigma was vital.

“Somebody I've worked with for a long time came in as I was taking my insulin and asked me what I was doing and seemed quite shocked. I also don’t think anyone should have to be sending screenshots of their glucose monitors showing 18 to be believed that they aren’t well. It sometimes feels like there’s less trust because diabetes isn’t as visible and that’s not fair.”

What’s next?

Vicky plans to keep running her group and hopes that this will inspire people to create more spaces for that support locally too and hopefully keep attracting some of the top names in diabetes care to speak to their group. They’ve recently had both Professor Partha Kar, National Specialty Advisor for Diabetes at NHS England and the West Yorkshire & Humber ICS Diabetes Clinical Lead, Dr Waqas Tahir, speak at different meetings and they’ve offered a huge amount of support and confidence to the group.

“I’d love to have more groups there to support people and have that ripple effect move out to more districts and other communities so more people working in the police force are able to get those shared benefits we’ve seen in our group so far.”

If Vicky’s story has inspired you to get involved, take a look at our latest volunteering opportunities. 

You can also find out more about the West Yorkshire Police Diabetes UK support group Vicky runs for serving colleagues. 

Discover more about how stigma affects people living with diabetes through our Diabetes Discussions: stigma podcast.

Sophia (pictured above, sixth from left) and Syed (pictured above, second from left) are Community Champions with Diabetes Scotland.

They attend monthly ‘Pitch to Plate’ events which provide a hot meal to refugees, asylum seekers, homeless people and those living in deprivation in the community. The events are organised by the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society (SABS) in conjunction with Hibernian FC Community Foundation in Edinburgh.

Sophia began her volunteering journey with Diabetes Scotland in 2021 as a Peer Support Facilitator for a women's group.

Although there is a history of diabetes in her family, Sophia was initially hesitant due to not having diabetes herself and therefore wondered if she was the right person for the role. However, she realised the importance of being a support contact within her community. She said:

"I thought it was really important for me to be a contact of support and be someone people can go to for any questions that they might have."

At first, she faced challenges in engaging the community, particularly older members who preferred face-to-face interactions over online meetings. Sophia adapted her approach and is now a Community Champion, signposting people to resources and support.

Syed’s volunteering has focused on men's health and fitness, recognising barriers such as men's reluctance to prioritise health. He also highlights the importance of women in spreading health awareness within families. He said:

"Women are still the matriarchs often when it comes to cooking and feeding their families, and through sisters, mothers, wives, sisters-in-law, aunties and nieces, we can get the message heard."

Syed was motivated by personal losses due to diabetes in his family. Having sadly lost his mother, father, and sister to the condition, Syed turned his grief into positive action. He says, "Grief can take you so far, but being able to make changes for the greater good is what we do as a faith." Syed wants to help people to find out their risk of diabetes early so they can get the help and support they need.

Pitch to Plate initiative

One of the key initiatives Sophia and Syed have been involved in is ‘Pitch to Plate’, a community event attracting up to a hundred people each month. Sophia and Syed hold a diabetes awareness stand on the first Tuesday of each month.

These events have been successful in reaching people who might not have known about Diabetes Scotland and starting up conversations about health. For example, in the lead up to Ramadan, Sophia and Syed have been able to share resources about Ramadan and diabetes. Syed says:

"The whole purpose of the event is to provide food to nourish people who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and, if they want to approach us, they can do so on their way out or when queuing for the food."

They both recognise how receiving and sharing food brings people from cultures and communities together and the important role it plays in making connections and starting conversations.

Working as a team and standout moments

Sophia and Syed are quick to acknowledge the importance of working closely with the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society (SABS) and Diabetes Scotland. They also recognise what each of them brings to the team and how they help and support each other.

For Syed, a highlight has been using the training he received from Diabetes Scotland. Whether it’s people going to their doctor after hearing about the symptoms of diabetes, or going to get their feet checked by a podiatrist.

For Sophia, it’s about the connections she’s been able to make and conversations she’s had which has got the knowledge out there.

"You can create so many new connections and get that conversation started. These connections lead to more opportunities for spreading awareness and providing support, helping to tackle inequality by ensuring everyone has access to the information and resources they need.”

Future plans

Looking ahead, Sophia and Syed have exciting plans to expand what they are doing in the community. They want to create more connections within the Muslim community and are planning an awareness raising event in Edinburgh in April.

They also hope to continue making connections through Pitch to Plate and Syed would like to use his experience and knowledge in exercise and sport to help to set up fitness and wellbeing groups for men and women.

Advice for future volunteers

"Just try and get involved as much as you can because you don't know where these different opportunities could lead you”, Sophia advises.

She also suggests potential volunteers take time to think about their motivations and the impact they can have on their community.

Syed highlights how rewarding volunteering can be and the importance of humanity and community in driving positive change. He says:

"We can all make change happen, it's about humanity.”

If hearing from Sophia and Syed has inspired you to get involved, take a look at our latest volunteering opportunities.

Roberta’s road to volunteering started when her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2017. She joined her local support group and found what she describes as “amazing support for me as a parent and for my son.” Highlighting the group’s ability to remove the sense of being alone, Roberta said: “We attended one of their events where my son said, “look mum they have to do the same as me”. To hear him say this was amazing as he didn't feel he was alone.”

Unsurprisingly, many children experience challenges when they're diagnosed, and Roberta’s son was no exception. “We had a lot of difficulties surrounding needle phobia when he was diagnosed.” Roberta explained: “This is what persuaded me to join the support group and volunteer.”

Fun activities for children and their families

Roberta and the group’s committee, consisting of other parents and carers of children with type 1 diabetes, try to arrange an activity every month so that children and their families can experience the benefits of their community spirit and, more importantly (especially for the children!) to have fun. At the same time, they learn that having type 1 diabetes doesn’t hold them back or prevent them from doing anything.

Roberta gave some examples of what the group has been up to so far this year: “Over the last few months, we have held activities such as pond dipping, climbing walls, Jungleland (a jungle-themed soft play centre), walks in the countryside and a family fun day. All these activities aim to connect families and children to feel supported and gain long term friendships.”

Reasons to be proud

Roberta is particularly proud of the connections she’s been able to make from her volunteering. “I am extremely proud of being able to grow and connect more people across Shropshire and Borders.” Explaining how this has been achieved, Roberta said: “This has been done through advertising, word of mouth, and collaborative working with Diabetes UK and the local paediatric team, all with the same aim of offering support in a fun and educational way.” She continued, “I feel my volunteering has benefitted other families to be able to share the difficulties and proud moments of living with diabetes.”

As for the future, Roberta is clear about what she wants to achieve:

"My future volunteering plans are to continue to grow the support group and to continue to reach out to families and children living with type 1 diabetes."

Volunteering can fit around you

Roberta has advice if you are considering volunteering: “My advice to anyone thinking about volunteering is that it does not mean you have to give lots of your time. If you have ambition to support others living with diabetes, then any amount of time is going to make a difference by being able to reach out and support them. It is an extremely rewarding position to volunteer for such a supportive charity like Diabetes UK.”

While the children in Roberta’s group all have type 1 diabetes, her group, like all those that support families, welcome children with type 2 and their families.

If you have been inspired by Roberta’s story, check out our Volunteering Opportunities.

Looking for support? You can also use our Local Support Group postcode finder to search for your nearest group.

Peter began volunteering at Diabetes UK in early 2024, supporting the work of the Northern Ireland team. For him, this felt like a natural progression and the next stage in his journey since his diagnosis with type 2 diabetes back in 2021. Peter was incredibly grateful for the encouragement and support he received from the South Eastern Trust and the remission peer support group, and he felt giving back something through volunteering would be quite fitting.

Peter reflected on how the staff within the Northern Ireland team discussed volunteering opportunities without any pressure. With his curiosity piqued, Peter stepped into the world of volunteering, enjoying interactions with others and seeing it as a great opportunity to help people.

Connection and inspiration

During his time so far as a volunteer, Peter noted how the people he has met along the way have been highly motivating – from healthcare professionals and the Diabetes UK Northern Ireland team, to members of the remission group and Live Well Hubs. Meeting others and hearing their stories is one of his key highlights – having that contact with like-minded people gave Peter the encouragement to give something back.

Peter thoroughly enjoys his interactions with the Northern Ireland team, inspired by their enthusiasm and professionalism. For him, his experience as a volunteer has given him a fresh focus, following nearly seven years of retirement. Peter says he’s particularly proud to have the opportunity to be part of something personal and helpful to others, as well as to his own health.

Volunteering highlights

So far in his volunteering journey, Peter has provided fantastic support to the Northern Ireland team, particularly by supporting the launches of the Belfast, Lisburn, and Mid Ulster Live Well Hubs. He feels a strong connection with others at the hubs, learning a great deal from their stories and hoping that sharing his experiences was also helpful for them to hear.

Earlier this year, Peter also had the opportunity to visit Stormont, Northern Ireland’s Parliament buildings, meeting the Health Minister on both occasions and sharing his diabetes remission story at the Live Well Hub celebration event in June. Speaking at this event was a particularly proud moment for Peter, where he felt his story offered first-hand experience of what may be achievable for others. He noted that if he could do it, many other people could do the same and that the encouragement he received from his family was invaluable throughout his journey.

"The Live Well Hubs, volunteer meetings, and just listening to people living with diabetes and hearing from the speakers at events gives me great encouragement to do more. The team aspect is something I really enjoy, and there is great support from everyone."

Plans for the future

Peter looks forward to continuing his support for Diabetes UK’s work in Northern Ireland, attending as many events as possible. As part of this, he hopes to develop his confidence to become a speaker volunteer where he’ll then be able to present to businesses and organisations throughout the region.

Peter hopes that sharing his story will help others realise that there are steps they can take, that support is available, and that remission may be possible for some people with type 2 diabetes depending on their circumstances. Peter encourages everyone to consider volunteering, no matter what stage of life they’re in.

If you feel inspired to volunteer, search our volunteer opportunities, talk to your local team, meet the people who are living with diabetes and listen to their stories. As Peter says, “put your intention into action and just go for it!”

You can also read Peter’s story where he shares his experiences of living with diabetes and putting his diabetes into remission.

Deepthi has always had a great aspiration to volunteer, having seen people volunteering since she was young. She is a former international student from India but found it challenging to find volunteering opportunities at home. Deepthi embarked on her volunteering journey thanks to her Master’s Degree studies at Sheffield Hallam University, as volunteering was a mandatory element of her course. She’s already met some incredible people doing amazing things.

As a nutritionist and health coach, she wanted to volunteer to apply her studies and work towards a career in diabetes management. Volunteering has been a turning point in her journey, and she’s supported several events already this year.

“I’m grateful for Diabetes UK and for these opportunities. I’m an international student so if it wasn’t for Diabetes UK, I wouldn’t have so many opportunities to meet people and to learn about diabetes.”

Deepthi believes that “alone we can do little, but together we can do much more”, and that these consistent small acts of volunteering can have a positive impact on people at a large scale.

For Deepthi, it’s not something she wants to do only for the short term, or even for the long term, but volunteering for her is lifelong.

Deepthi’s role in the community

It’s incredible how much Deepthi has achieved and experienced as a volunteer since beginning her journey with us in January 2024. It started with supporting our charity’s North of England Engaging Communities Officer to deliver an online talk, supporting people who are living with sight loss at an event led by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). She’s since attended events for people working in prisons, supported our fundraiser to raise diabetes awareness at their events, and supported health events in the community.

Deepthi says that from her experience speaking in the community, people start to gain more of an interest in diabetes and want to learn about how to prevent or manage it. She believes it’s more important than ever to help people learn the signs and symptoms of diabetes as over 1 million people are currently living with the condition without knowing.   

While attending events Deepthi has noticed there’s a lot of misinformation and myths about diabetes circulating in the community, the internet, and social media. She says people often struggle to get credible resources to help them live well with diabetes. Deepthi enjoys handing out our information leaflets and booklets, telling people about our local peer support groups and signposting to our website and helpline, and she sees how our information helps people. She also uses her professional background to tell people about the NHS remission programmes.

Connecting with other volunteers

Volunteering with other volunteers and organisations has given Deepthi so much joy and motivation, and she feels lucky to have met so many wonderful people this year. While supporting one of our fundraising events, she met an incredible fundraiser aged over 90 years old who’s enthusiasm has stuck with her, as he was so passionate about supporting people living with diabetes.

Deepthi has also had the opportunity to volunteer with the Leeds Diabetes UK Support Group and the Sheffield Diabetes UK Support Group. Some of the members have volunteered for over 20 years and bring a wealth of knowledge which they share with Deepthi. From hearing talks given by group guest speakers, (for example an Indian expert for type 1 diabetes) Deepthi feels she’s always learning about diabetes on a local and global scale. She’s learnt so much from her co-volunteers, they’ve always welcomed her with open arms and a warm heart. Their enthusiasm has inspired her to volunteer more, and she hopes to meet more volunteers, getting to know their stories and experiences in the future.

Highlights whilst volunteering with us

When asked about her highlights and successes volunteering for us, Deepthi shared about an event where she was able to deliver health messaging on eating well when living with diabetes. This was close to her heart given her background as a nutritionist and health coach. She got good feedback and an overwhelming response from attendees, and she really values the opportunity to deliver accurate information provided by us.

When she’s given talks on diabetes and food, she often finds herself “myth busting” because there’s still so much misinformation out there. One of her event attendees said that they’d found so much value in the information that she provided, that they would take this with them for the rest of their life.

Deepthi has learnt so much through volunteering, and she attributes one of the main reasons for her getting a job as a Diabetes Remission Health Coach to the knowledge she’s gained from being one of our volunteers.

Plans for the future   

Deepthi would love to be a lifelong volunteer, to give back to the community. She’s still learning and gaining knowledge every day. She loves meeting amazing people from diverse cultures and would love for this to continue. Deepthi is keen to volunteer more with women living with or at risk of gestational diabetes, promoting early intervention to reduce the likelihood of complications. She’d also like to do more research on diabetes technology such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and artificial intelligence (AI) to see how these can help people to manage their diabetes.

Deepthi would encourage everyone to consider volunteering. She says it doesn’t matter for how many hours, or length of time, everyone should feel the satisfaction of helping others without expecting anything in return. Positively impacting peoples’ lives through volunteering is rewarding, and from a professional point of view volunteering gives invaluable opportunities to get exposure of real-world issues and what’s happening in the world. While studying and reading books is great there’s nothing more valuable than real life experience. She also says that volunteering has made her a more compassionate, empathetic, and well-rounded person.         

Deepthi is grateful to Diabetes UK for her volunteering experiences and says that because she came to the UK as an international student, she wouldn’t have had the same opportunities to meet people and learn about diabetes if it wasn’t for teaming up with us. She can’t believe how much she’s learnt about diabetes in India too through volunteering with us, and she’s improved both professionally and personally as a result. She would love to do more volunteering in the future across local and global diabetes.

The North of England team at Diabetes UK look forward to working with Deepthi further and feel extremely grateful and proud of her time with us. She has been a dream to work with, and we see a great future for her, both through her volunteering and beyond. The world is your oyster Deepthi!

If you have been inspired by Deepthi’s story, check out our volunteering and Communities in Action opportunities.