Charity award for volunteer who helps people at risk of Type 2 diabetes

Henry Gerber

Henry Gerber, a retired maths and physics lecturer who helps people who are at risk of Type 2 diabetes, has won a top volunteering award from the charity Diabetes UK.

Henry, 63, from Smithy Bridge won the Raising Awareness award at the charity’s regional conference in Durham on Saturday 1 February.

Henry helps hundreds of people by assessing their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in his role as a trained risk assessor for Diabetes UK.

He supports the charity which cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of people with diabetes at Healthy Living Roadshows, volunteer events and other activities, alerting people to the risk factors of the condition, such as being overweight or having a large waist, and encouraging them to see their GP if necessary.

He volunteered at all nine roadshows in the Northern and Yorkshire area last year. He has also done risk assessments at Network Rail Depot in Leeds and helped Diabetes UK recruit volunteers at a host of student events.

Henry said: “I try to make the risk assessments fun. I think it’s important that people worried about diabetes can talk to someone who knows what it’s like. I have come to terms with my diabetes and I can reassure them and put their mind at ease.”

Henry admits he was in denial about his own Type 2 diabetes until he had a stroke, a common complication of the condition.

“To be honest, looking back I was quite depressed. I didn’t take it seriously. I just left it and left it.

“I was in the stroke ward for four weeks and there was a lovely sister. She gave me a right rollicking. She put me back on the straight and narrow.

“Now I go to all my appointments. I lost between three and four stone and I look after myself. Diabetes doesn’t have to rule your life. You rule the diabetes.”

Linda Wood, Regional Manager for Diabetes UK in the Northern and Yorkshire region said: “Henry is doing fantastic work making sure people know they are at risk of diabetes and trying to ensure they go to their doctor.

“The Inspire Awards are a great opportunity to thank the people who deserve recognition for their fantastic efforts to support people with diabetes. As an organisation, we couldn’t do what we do without brilliant and dedicated volunteers like Henry. Thanks to our network of volunteers, we’re helping people with diabetes manage their condition, campaigning to improve the quality of care available to them, funding pioneering research into the condition and working to stem the rising tide of Type 2 diabetes.”