LINDA WOOD, regional manager for Diabetes UK in the North-East and North Yorkshire, is retiring after nearly 16 years of campaigning for better care for people with diabetes in the area.

Ms Wood who was based in Darlington, joined Diabetes UK when it was called the British Diabetic Association in 1998 and has supported 28 Diabetes UK voluntary groups in the region.

She has also been the media voice of Diabetes UK and has appeared frequently on radio, television and in print to raise awareness of diabetes and particularly in recent years to highlight the growing rate of Type 2 diabetes.

She said: “I did everything from working with volunteers to fundraising, media work and NHS engagement.

“When I joined I was making presentations that said there were 1.4 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes.

"Now it’s about 3.8 million. That’s quite a shocking increase. I think, however, that the awareness of diabetes has grown and the public now have a better understanding of the seriousness of diabetes because of the work Diabetes UK has done, nationally, regionally and locally.

“The highlights of my job have been working with the staff, voluntary groups and fundraisers across the region. Without them Diabetes UK just wouldn’t be able to do all the work that we do.”