A PENSIONER has won an award for his dedication to diabetes sufferers.

Michael Loveridge was diagnosed with type two diabetes in 2002 and has spent the past two and a half years running support sessions for others with the same condition.

The 69-year-old was presented with an accolade for his volunteer work for Diabetes UK at the East of England Inspire Awards.

Mr Loveridge, of Chase Lane, Dovercourt, won the award for running three support groups for type two diabetes in Dovercourt, Manningtree and Walton.

Michael decided to get involved with supporting diabetes after he returned to the UK in 2013 after living in Belize for four years.

He broke his collar bone and ribs in a motorbike accident while living in the Central American country and returned home to receive medical treatment.

He said: “After recovering from the accident I decided to go on a course to give something back to the NHS which had helped me throughout the years with medical treatments.”

After the course Michael was qualified as a peer support facilitator and started running a diabetes support group in Dovercourt to offer in formation and guidance on type two diabetes. He then set up the groups in Manningtree and Walton.

Mr Loveridge added: “I have learned that people with diabetes really benefit from talking to others about it and we share how we deal with it.

“The groups have been really successful and I have found that speaking about your issues can help alleviate them.”

Michael was nominated for the regional award anonymously and will be attending the UK Inspire Awards event at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, in Birmingham, on July 5.

For more information on the type two groups contact Mr Loveridge on 07342 674919 or click here.