A Westbury man has been honoured for living a full, active life while having type 1 diabetes for over 50 years.

Chris Friend, 65, who has had the condition for 55 years, was presented with the Nabarro Medal at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. The award is given by Diabetes UK to people who have lived with diabetes for 50 years.

The medal – almost 500 were awarded last year, more than double than in 2004 – is named after Alan Nabarro, who made a significant impact on the lives of people with diabetes.

Mr Friend, of Wellhead Drove, recently retired from his work as a travelling fishmonger. He is also a minister at Upper Studley Baptist Church, Trowbridge, and has lived in Westbury for over 30 years.

He said: “I knew they gave out the medals for living with diabetes for 50 years and it’s good to advertise the fact to help other people who are suffering with it.

“After I found out I had diabetes my doctor said to me: ‘It’s not going to control your life, you’re going to control it and fit it around what you want to do’ and I still remember those words today.”

Mr Friend was diagnosed aged 10, when research into the condition was limited and technology less sophisticated than today. “I’d never even heard of it. I was very, very thirsty and then the next day I would be violently sick and this carried on for about a week before I went to the doctor,” he said.

“Then I spent about 10 days in hospital and I thought ‘They can do whatever they like to me as long as they don’t stick needles in me’.

“One day I had to go into a nurse’s room – she was going to show me how to inject myself, which was terrifying, but she was brilliant and in 10 minutes I was doing it.”

Despite the condition, affecting almost six per cent of the UK’s population, Mr Friend has kept active and is a member of Bradford on Avon Rowing Club.

Dr Alex Ward, a consultant diabetologist at the RUH, said: “I feel humbled to present the Nabarro award to a person who has been managing their diabetes for almost longer than I have been alive. It is important to highlight how possible it is to live a long, full and active life with diabetes.”