The family of a 20-year-old who died suddenly due to a complication with his diabetes have paid tribute to him.

Jake Chapman, from Minster on Sheppey, had previously been diagnosed with the condition and had always struggled to manage it due to his autism.

Last Sunday, he suffered a cardiac event after saying he wasn’t feeling very well. It was believed to be caused by diabetic ketoacidosis.

This is when a lack of insulin causes harmful substances called ketones to build up in the blood.

His sister, Nicole Chapman, performed CPR until the ambulance arrived and crews then managed to get his heart beating again before taking him to Medway Maritime Hospital.

Jake later became non-responsive and had swelling in the brain. He was pronounced dead last Tuesday.

He leaves behind his four sisters, Victoria Hunter, Lillian, Cathrine and Nicole Chapman, as well as mum Joanne Chapman.

Jake was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2015 when he was aged 10.

His older sister, Lillian Chapman, described him as a “brilliant young man” and said he had recently got better at handling his condition.

The 30-year-old added: “It is an awful disease that has taken a very much loved, beautiful young boy away from us.

“When he was first diagnosed, he didn't understand why he suddenly couldn’t have dessert after dinner or why he was the only one taking medication.

“As he got older, he got better and much more careful.”

Speaking about her brother, she said: “He loved to draw wonderful creations that he wanted to use to play Dungeons & Dragons with.

“He loved dressing smartly and listened to really funky music. He fell in love. He was going to be 21 this year, but now he’s gone.

“We are a strong family and we plan to live every day for him and though this is something we never thought we would have to do, Jake will never be forgotten.

“We had twenty beautiful years with him.

“This wonderful, kind, creative and loving boy deserves the absolute best we can do for him even if it's not much.

“A mother should not have to say goodbye to her child. Siblings should not have to say goodbye to their youngest brother.

“Friends should not have to miss a beautiful soul like his. Jake was very much loved in all his years of living.”

The family have honoured the 20-year-old’s request to become an organ donor.

Lillian added: “Even though he is gone from us, he is living on and doing something very few of us may ever get to do – saving lives.

“There are people out there right now, recovering because of my brother. We are so proud of him.”

A GoFundMe was set up on Tuesday (January 21) to help raise money for his funeral.

At the time of writing, it has had more than 50 donations, with a total contribution of £1,445.

If you’d like to contribute, please click here.

His sister told KentOnline that setting up the fundraiser was one of the hardest things she has ever had to do.

She said: “You don't ever expect to be sending off your little brother or watching your mum breakdown about how we are going to afford to give her son a send-off.

“The overwhelming support from friends, family and others so far has made an unexplainable impact on my family today.

“It is beyond words how much this kindness has both helped and wowed us in this awful time.”

His funeral will be held at The Garden of England Crematorium in Bobbing on Thursday, February 6 at 3pm.

All those who knew and loved Jake are welcome.

People are also being asked to dress colourfully, especially in purple, as the youngster “hated the idea of people being dressed in black and sad”.