A DIABETIC Barry resident has won a top award after her volunteering efforts were recognises as helping fellow patients in the Vale.

57-year-old Elaine Adams, a member of the Diabetes UK local group in the Vale, won the Director’s Award at the Diabetes UK Cymru’s charity’s Inspire Awards ceremony, held in Cardiff’s Holiday Inn on Saturday, March 7.

Elaine earned acclaim for working tirelessly to help support people living with diabetes in Wales has won a top award at Diabetes UK Cymru’s Inspire awards ceremony.

Elaine, who has Type 2 diabetes, is passionate about improving the lives of people with diabetes.

Elaine said: “I am so thrilled to have been chosen for this award, but the real prize is being able to make a difference to people living with diabetes on a day to day basis. It is such a serious condition and being able to raise awareness is something vital that I’m going to carry on doing whenever I get the chance.”

Diabetes UK Cymru’s director, Dai Williams, said: “I chose to give Elaine the Director’s award this year because she really does go over and above to help people with diabetes. Not only is she a member of her local group, she never misses an opportunity to help people with diabetes, even giving out information on her way to work each morning.

“The Inspire Awards are a great opportunity to thank our fantastic volunteers for their hard work helping to support people with diabetes. There are 182,000 people living with diabetes in Wales, and our dedicated volunteers like Elaine help them to manage their condition, campaign to improve the quality of care available to them, fundraise for pioneering research and work to stem the rising tide of diabetes. Our volunteers are our army on the ground working hard in their communities. Our much-needed work wouldn’t be possible without their incredible support.”

For details on how to become a volunteer for Diabetes UK or to join a support group, email wales@diabetes.org.uk or call 029 2066 8276.