A mother from Preston who was inspired to develop a website after her 10-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes has won an award.

Angela Allison was spurred on by the battles she and husband Donald have faced since Claudia's diabetes diagnosis in May 2008.

She set up Diabetes Power, an online forum for parents and children living with diabetes to share experiences.

It has now won Angela a Quality in Care (QiC) Diabetes People's Award which highlights good ideas and shares them across the NHS so that as many patients as possible can benefit from initiatives.

The site also aims to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes.

Angela said: "I am absolutely thrilled to be nominated and to win the award, and what it means is hard to put into words. Since Claudia was diagnosed, we have worked towards a Type 1 awareness campaign. To finally see the campaign moving forward means all the hours and the work have been worth it. Without the support of other parents with children with Type 1 and adults with Type 1 this campaign couldn't have started."

Through the site Angela has fronted a campaign to try and eradicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) 2, a potentially-life threatening complication of undiagnosed and untreated Type 1 diabetes.

NHS Diabetes director Anna Morton said: "Angela is a shining example of people power. Angela's website has provided support, answers and awareness to people with diabetes and their families and carers. With all the changes taking place in the health service, the NHS needs champions like Angela to help make a difference to people with diabetes."

The QiC Diabetes awards was held at the headquarters of healthcare company Sanofi, in Guildford, on November 16.

The awards programme has been developed by PMGroup with support from NHS Diabetes, charity Diabetes UK and Sanofi.