Photo credit: Jonathan White
A teenager from Crewe has received an award from Diabetes UK after raising thousands of pounds to support diabetes research.
Emma Horne, 16, received the Young Person’s Outstanding Contribution Award during a service at St Mary’s Church in Wistaston on Wednesday 11th July 2018.
The Malbank High School and Sixth Form College pupil raised £5,100 for Diabetes UK during her year as Wistaston’s Rose Queen, and chose to support the charity as she has friends and family with diabetes.
These include her sister Laura, who has type 1 diabetes, and her dad Michael, who recently found out he has type 2 diabetes.
Emma commented: “I am proud to receive this award and would like to dedicate it to the congregation at St Mary’s Church, Wistaston, who supported me through my year as Rose Queen and made it possible to raise such a fantastic amount of money.”
Her fundraising events included tea dances, a onesie party, plant sales, Christmas fairs, a Chinese New Year-themed quiz, and a 2018 calendar featuring photographs from the events.
The money was donated to support a diabetes research project being undertaken at The University of Manchester by Dr Jenny Myers.
The project is monitoring mothers-to-be with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and their unborn babies.
In women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s often the case that their babies can grow too small or too large during pregnancy and it is thought this could be linked to the mother’s blood glucose levels.
Emma added: “It was important for me to support Diabetes UK, and particularly this research, as my sister Laura has type 1 diabetes and gave birth to a baby boy, Perran William Isaac, in September 2017.”
Trevor Fudger, Diabetes UK regional fundraiser said: “It’s an honour to be able to present Emma with this award, and we are extremely grateful for all her hard work and the support of all those involved in her fundraising efforts.
“It has made a huge difference to people with diabetes and to our work to create a world where diabetes can do no harm.”
Diabetes UK describes the condition as “the fastest growing health crisis of our time,” affecting more people than any other serious health condition in the UK – more than dementia and cancer combined.
People with diabetes have too much glucose in the blood because their bodies cannot use it properly.
If not managed, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications. It is one of the leading causes of preventable sight loss in people of working age in the UK and is a major cause of lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.
There is currently no known cure for any type of diabetes, however, with the right treatment, knowledge and support, people living with diabetes can lead a long, full and healthy life.
Type 1 diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin. About 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1.
No one knows exactly what causes it, but it’s not to do with being overweight and it isn’t currently preventable.
It’s the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse quickly.
Type 1 diabetes is treated by daily insulin doses – taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. It is also recommended to follow a healthy diet and take regular physical activity.
Type 2 diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or the insulin they produce doesn’t work properly (known as insulin resistance).
About 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2.
They might get type 2 diabetes because of their family history, age and ethnic background puts them at increased risk. They are also more likely to get type 2 diabetes if they are overweight.
It starts gradually, usually later in life, and it can be years before they realise they have it.
Type 2 diabetes is treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity. In addition, tablets and/or insulin may be required.
To find out more about the research Diabetes UK supports, please visit: www.diabetes.org.uk/research
