A high school pupil is raising awareness of diabetes after watching his friend and grandparents struggle with the disease.

Pleckgate High School pupil Taha Kazi is working with charities IMO (Inspire, Motivate, Overcome) and One Voice Blackburn as a Young Diabetes Champion over the next year to spread awareness of both type one and two diabetes.

The year 10 pupil said: “Diabetes is something which is close to me as my grandparents had diabetes and my friend at school has it.

“Thankfully my friend likes to exercise so I can see the benefits of that to him.

“In a few weeks I will be going into primary and secondary schools and talking to pupils about diabetes, the signs, symptoms and promote how beneficial exercise is and to not eat too many sugary items.

“I am really proud to be doing this, it gives me a purpose and I want to help people.”

Taha also raised awareness of the disease through IMO as well as attending meetings at Blackburn Youth Zone to talk about his role as ‘Young Diabetes Champion’.

Diabetes occurs when the level of glucose in your blood becomes too high.

Type one is when the body produces no insulin and it has to be injected or infused through a pump.

Type two is when the body doesn’t make enough insulin and is often linked to being inactive or overweight.

This can be managed through diet, exercise and self-monitoring blood glucose.