ABOUT US

Glynis started going to meetings of the Sheffield Group with her husband Phil, and took on the role of Website co-ordinator in 2006. She and Phil then began to use the information collected for the website to produce the local Newsletter. She was elected Chair in January 2008. Glynis began her career as a librarian so realises the importance of having access to reliable information. She says "When Phil was first diagnosed, I tried to find out as much as I could about diabetes by visiting the library, websites etc. I thought he would have to start eating all sorts of special "diabetic foods", so was relieved when I discovered that the recommendations by Diabetes UK were the same as for anyone aiming at a healthy lifestyle. I have enjoyed getting involved with the activities of the Sheffield Group, although I never expected to end up as Chair".

 

Mollie was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over 12 years ago. In order to assist the current Secretary at the time she started by just taking the minutes in October 2003 before being elected as Secretary of the Sheffield Group in 2004. The job of Secretary is vital for keeping any organisation functioning and we have been lucky over the years to have had people willing to take on this role.  In 2006 she was elected Vice Chair as well. She works closely with the chair to oversee the day to day running of the group. Besides taking minutes at Committee meetings and keeping up with the rest of the group's paperwork, she liaises with the regional and national Diabetes UK organisations, attends relevant conferences and road shows etc. Mollie says that after she retired she wanted to improve people's awareness of diabetes as well as putting the minute taking and administrative skills she had gained whilst working at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital to some useful purpose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHIL is Honorary Treasurer

 

Phil was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2002. He began attending the Sheffield Group meetings and when the position of Treasurer became vacant he volunteered to take over. He runs his own business making and selling wooden toys so has experience of accounting.
He says "I went for a routine eyesight test in November 2002, expecting just to be given new glasses, but the optician found irregularities in the back of my eye which looked like symptoms of high blood pressure or diabetes. He arranged for me to go straight to the Eye Clinic at the Royal Hallamshire. Fortunately my wife had also come for her eye test (she had got to the stage of choosing frames and wondered why I was taking so long!), so she came with me. I had lots of further tests and was told to make an immediate appointment to see my GP. By this time I was panicking and couldn't understand how I could have anything wrong with me, since I didn't feel ill. The next few weeks saw several trips to the GP and Eye Clinic with the diagnosis of diabetes and high blood pressure both confirmed. I went through a whole range of feelings - confusion, depression, but then determination to carry on as usual. Searching the Internet, I found there was a Sheffield Group for people with diabetes so decided to go a meeting. It was reassuring to meet a bunch of normal healthy looking people who certainly didn't appear to be at death's door!. My eyesight continues to be a problem - I have had to give up driving and am having regular laser treatment, but otherwise I am fine. It's really important for people with diabetes to have eye screening, and to encourage all members of the family to keep up with regular eye tests so that any potential problems can be caught early"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARY is a Committee Member

We are lucky to have Mary in the Sheffield Group, as she has a wealth of experience in the field of diabetes and keeps us up to date with developments. She served as Chair for a year from January 2007.
Mary has had type 1 diabetes since 1999 and was elected to the Diabetes UK Advisory Council as a lay member in 2003. Mary has been involved with the BDA/Diabetes UK for many years and continues to serve the organisation nationally as Vice Chair of the England Advisory Council, at regional level and as a member of the Diabetes UK Sheffield Group. She is a member of the Sheffield Diabetes Network User Group.
Professionally, Mary qualified in nursing in 1968 and worked in primary and specialist diabetes health care for twenty-five years. She co-ordinated diabetes services in Sheffield for ten years and then moved to co-found and become Director of Education of Warwick Diabetes Care, the University of Warwick. Warwick Diabetes Care was set up to deliver high quality diabetes educational programmes for General Practitioners and their staff. Mary has worked at international level for the WHO and for three years, she was an elected Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation. Throughout her professional career, Mary served on many national and local diabetes committees and working groups in the UK.
Mary is currently Chair of PROUD (Professionals United by Diabetes), a developing network of people who live and work with diabetes. Her other interests include the life of Florence Nightingale, writing and the garden. She is married with two sons and continues to work part time as a diabetes education consultant.

 

 

 

KITTY is a Committee Member

 

Kitty is one of our longest standing Committee members, having served since 1982. She sets us all an example by not letting her diabetes or her 3 sessions a week of kidney dialysis get in the way of her active life. As well as distributing this Newsletter and other publicity materials for the group, she is always one of the first to volunteer to help out at events and specialises in running successful Tombolas.
She recently stepped down from the position of Treasurer of the League of Friends at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital after 27 years, although she remains as a Trustee

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICK is Fundraising Co-ordinator

Mick was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2000, joined Diabetes UK and its affiliated Sheffield Group as a member at the start of the following year and was elected its Chair in 2002. He also took on the task of Fundraising Co-ordinator and did the two jobs until he stood down as Chair at the January 2007 AGM.
Mick says "On reflection the best advice I was given when diagnosed with diabetes was to become a member of Diabetes UK and its affiliated, very active, Sheffield sub group which holds monthly meetings. Through the many "diabetic" friends I 've made and by listening to the presentations by health care professionals, I've been helped to manage my diabetes and so hopefully minimising the risk of onset of serious complications (blindness, kidney disease, lower limb amputations, strokes which can be associated with poorly controlled diabetes). I am in no doubt that Diabetes UK has given me the life I have today, and would strongly encourage everyone with diabetes to become  members.

 I took on the role of Chair and Fundraiser for the Group for several years and since standing down as Chair I will still offer as much time as I possibly can to the continuing success of the Group".

 

 

 

 

 

LESLEY is a Committee Member

Lesley has a fairly demanding full time job but still finds the time to do her bit for Diabetes UK. She takes responsibility for opening up and getting the room ready for Group Meetings, as well as helping at events throughout the year. Her main role is co-ordinating the Diabetes for Beginners Scheme, which involves getting in touch with GP practices and responding to their requests to send out copies of the "Diabetes for Beginners" magazine to people newly diagnosed. She also co-ordinates the selling of second hand books. She herself was diagnosed in 2003 and says "becoming a member of your Diabetes UK Local Group is a great way to make new friends and, by attending meetings, ensure you receive up-to-date advice & support at regular intervals".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHAEL is an Associate Member

 

 

 

Michael stood down from the role of Secretary a few years ago, remained on the Committee and then, in 2008 decided to become an Associate.  He is one of our dedicated band of supermarket collectors - so dedicated that he once complained when he was in the middle of collecting and Morrisons staff were trying to close early just because it was Christmas!