Lucy is an English actress and daughter of comedian Jasper Carrot.
Jasper Carrot was a successful stand-up comic and the star of comedies in the seventies, eighties and nineties.
Lucy was cast as Dawn Tinsley from The Office and has been in several films like Shawn of The Dead. She was also cast as Aunt Hilda in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Being diagnosed with diabetes
Lucy had quite a few problems with her kidneys and in 1997 had to have a kidney transplant after being diagnosed with kidney failure. When she was recovering from the transplant she developed diabetes and was taken to hospital again in 2005 with kidney failure.
Lucy spoke to us about her diabetes and how she lives with it now.
"When you are first diagnosed with diabetes it can seem overwhelming and frightening. It could seem easier to bury your head in the sand and hope it will go away. But I think the most important thing to remember is that must be in control of your diabetes and not the other way around."
I've known people who allow their difficulties in life to define them, but don't let diabetes define you
"I've known people who allow their difficulties in life to define them. They say 'Why me?'. But I have to say to myself 'Why not me?'. Many people deal with difficult challenges every day of their lives, and we are lucky that we have medicines and technology available to us that others didn't many years ago.
"One adjustment that I found hard at first was always having to plan ahead – where was I going to be that day? What food would be available? Did I have all the insulin I needed? Did I have spare glucose tablets with me? But after a very short time, this became second nature, like remembering to take my purse out with me or my keys.
One adjustment that I found hard at first was always having to plan ahead
"Many things come along in everyone's lives to test us. What makes us stand out from the crowd is how we deal with them. Diabetes can be as easy or as difficult as we make it. And by controlling it and keeping ourselves healthy, we can help prevent the side-effects of diabetes later in life."
"Be vigilant about your health and your medications. Don't let yourself view it as a chore. Then go out and live your life, and grasp your dreams with both hands."
