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Richard Lane is Ambassador and Immediate Past President of Diabetes UK, the UK's leading diabetes charity.

Richard, who has Type 1 diabetes, was one of the first people in the UK to receive islet cell transplants in 2005.

The surgery came after a long history of diabetes-related complications, including comas and severe hypoglycaemic episodes (hypos).

The transplants transformed Richard’s life and he has not had a serious hypo since his first operation.

He was the first person in the UK to completely come off insulin. This situation continued for about a year, but he had then to go back on to insulin. He contracted a viral infection from which some antibodies developed which were damaging his new beta cells, and now he has to supplement his natural insulin via the pump and count carbs again.

Richard, who formerly held the position of President at Diabetes UK, has been a great advocate for the charity. He has spent much of his free time travelling the country undertaking public speaking at local community meetings and conferences to raise awareness of the condition and the work of Diabetes UK.