As a child, I had absolutely no knowledge of diabetes, what it was or what it meant. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in the August of 2000, aged 6. I had very little idea of what was actually happening, the concept of being in hospital scared me a lot, and I knew that something was evidently wrong when I saw how upset my parents were.

Then, I was on two injections a day of mixtard 30, an extremely strict dietary routine, and multiple blood glucose tests a day. If I'm honest, I did not feel at all that different from any other child, and I still don't feel all that different now, diabetes has always been a way of life for me, and I could not imagine my life without it now. I am now carb counting and on multiple injection therapy which gives me much more control although I do suffer from multiple daily/nightly hypoglycaemia.

As a family, Diabetes is no stranger, shortly after my diagnosis, my Grandad was diagnosed with type two, followed by my Mum, Sister (Type 1), cousin, and Aunt. I have been so lucky to have all of the support of which I have received over the year, and I could never be thankful enough. This has not always meant I have made the right choices with Diabetes though, and like many, a few years ago I rebelled against what I believed to be abnormal.

I'm now older and accept the dangers of ill-treated diabetes and am doing my best to ensure that I do everything I can to help myself. I am currently discussing my options and hope to switch to insulin infusion therapy within the next few months to better my control further.

I am now 19, I have just completed my first year of my degree at a Music college in Leeds, and I am extremely proud of how I have coped living away from home. It has not been easy, but with a breadth of support, and determination, it is possible.

Good luck, and think positively!
Lucy,
:-) x

Lucy
Birmingham, United Kingdom