A WOMAN has been recognised for her volunteering activities for charity.

Peggy Ryle, 81, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1943 after experiencing the main symptoms of the condition, which include frequent urinating, excessive thirst, extreme tiredness and unexplained weight loss.

She went on to spend more than 45 years supporting Diabetes UK and in 1970 was one of the founding members of the charity’s first support group in Hastings.

Mrs Ryle said: “My Mum was very worried so she took me to the doctors during a wartime blackout to have a blood and urine test and I was admitted to hospital for six weeks before they finally told me I had diabetes.”

She has seen significant advances to the monitoring and treatment of the condition over the past seven decades.

Mrs Ryle, from Hastings, said: “As a teenager, my insulin was injected with inch-long needles and you had to buy your own testing kit as there was no NHS.”

The grandmother from Hastings is an active member of the current Hastings and Rother Diabetes UK Voluntary Group and is featured dancing in the one of the current information posters for Diabetes UK.