Family receives award for work to highlight risk of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes in young people
The family of a little girl who died aged two from complications associated with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes recognised for their efforts to highlight risk for others.
The annual Quality in Care (QiC) Diabetes Awards recently celebrated 15 years of recognising the work of healthcare professionals and innovative practice in the care of people living with diabetes and their families and carers.
The awards recognised many healthcare professionals found to demonstrate quality in diabetes management, education and services.
The QiC Diabetes 2025 Awards presentation took place recently at Sanofi’s UK offices in Reading.
Debbie Tuesley, Events Director at QiC Diabetes, said: “A Quality in Care award means an initiative has been recognised by the NHS, patients and industry as improving the quality of life for people living with diabetes.”
Among the winners was John Story, who received The People’s Award for his tireless campaigning for mandatory testing of young children who could be showing symptoms of type 1 diabetes to ensure that other families do not experience the same heartache as his family.
John’s daughter, Lyla Story, died in May following diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) linked to undiagnosed type 1 diabetes and other complications. Lyla had just celebrated her second birthday three weeks earlier.
Since Lyla’s death, John Story launched a petition with the UK Parliament for the introduction of legislation to improve diagnosis and introduce screening.
On receiving the award, John said: “This award is an honour. To be in the company of such inspirational people is truly humbling. I only hope that Lyla is proud of me, watching over me to guide me through this fight, and that change happens within primary care, so no child is ever dismissed again before diabetic ketoacidosis.”
DRWF Chief Executive, Sarah Tutton, said: “DRWF has been supporting the QiC Diabetes awards since their launch many years ago as a way in which to highlight the incredible commitment and dedication to diabetes that exists across the healthcare professional spectrum. It is both inspiring and humbling to see the breadth of innovation and passion that abounds within our diabetes community.
“This year our hearts have been consumed with the story of Lyla Story and the incredible work that her father John has undertaken to raise awareness about the tragic risks of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.
"We are delighted that the family’s efforts have been rightly recognised with the QiC Diabetes People’s Award and continue to promote their petition which seeks to change legislation and improve diagnosis and screening. If you haven’t done so already, please view the petition and add your name to the movement for change.”
The full list of winners from the QiC Diabetes awards:
Equality, Diversity and Health Equalities:
Winner: Improving Equity in Hybrid Closed Loop Access for Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes – Barts Health Young Adult Diabetes (YAD) Service
Highly commended: CARE GDM – Culturally Aligned Resources for Empowerment in Gestational Diabetes by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Improvements in Diabetes Care Using Data:
Winner: GP Pathfinder Clinics – Improvements in Diabetes Care Using Data by GP Pathfinder Clinics
Highly commended: Juliana Dike by East London NHS Foundation Trust
Patient Care Pathway, Secondary, Primary, Specialist or Community Care:
Winner: St Helen’s Young Adult Diabetes Service by Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Highly commended: A New Care Pathway for Young Adults Age 19-24 with Type 2 Diabetes Living in Two South East London Boroughs by a Collaboration between Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Southwark and Lambeth Community Diabetes Teams, and King’s College London
NHS England Outstanding Contribution Award for Services in Diabetes: Helen Murphy and Eleanor Scott
Type 1 Specialist Service:
Winner: Looped In: Innovating the Future of Type 1 Diabetes Care by Manchester Royal Infirmary
Highly commended: 5.Project EQuIP: Enhancing Quality & Inclusion in Pumps. For Children and Young People in Peterborough & Huntingdon by North West Anglia Foundation NHS Trust
Wellbeing:
Winner: How to Manage a Mammoth: A Cbeebies Bedtime Story by NHS Wales/Talking Type 1
Highly commended: Child Centred Clinics – Improving Patient Experience of Hospital MDT Clinics by Hillingdon Hospital CYPD Team
Diabetes Education Programmes – Healthcare Professionals:
Winner: STEPPS (Structured Training and Education with Psychological and Peer Support) by Ormskirk District General Hospital
Highly commended: Improving Footcare Equity: A Practical Guide for Dark Skin Tones by Diabetes Africa
Diabetes Education Programmes – People with Diabetes:
Winner: Empowering Diabetes Self-Management Through Blended Learning Innovation by West and North Hampshire Community Diabetes Service – HIOWH
Highly commended: DAFNE – Closed Loop Essentials by DAFNE – Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Wales Outstanding Contribution Award for Services in Diabetes: Melanie Foote-Jones
Insulin Safety Week Award: Wye Valley NHS Trust
Unsung Hero Award: Julian Dike and the Hillingdon Hospital CYPD Team
Judge’s Special Award: Headlines – The DSN Forum UK Podcast by DSN Forum UK
Diabetes Professional of the Year: Meg Cousins
Outstanding Educator in Diabetes: Dr Pam Brown and Jane Diggle
The People’s Award: John Story
Peer support:
Commended: Type 1 Kidz – Family Support
Hypo Awareness Week: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
DRWF are proud to support the QiC Diabetes Awards.
Sign the Funding so all infants are offered Type 1 Diabetes Testing in routine care petition
Find out more about Quality in Care Diabetes awards
Read more Addressing the challenge of misdiagnosis of type 1 diabetes in young people
Listen to the DRWF podcast interview with John Story, part of the DRWF Living with Diabetes podcast series
Read more about type 1 diabetes
For more information about the 4Ts, read the DRWF Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes information leaflet here
I would like to make a regular donation of
I would like to make a single donation of
There are lots of ways to raise money to support
people living with all forms of diabetes.
Bake, Swim, Cycle, Fly ... Do It For DRWF!
Fundraise with us
Recent News
