"You'll think you've got it cracked then something comes along, throws everything out and you've got to restart all over again"

Oliver has Type 1 diabetes. In this story, he's 15 years old, at secondary school, and is into musical theatre and amateur dramatics. His mum Sue is a nurse and his older brother Adam is at University. Here Oliver and Sue share their perspectives and experiences of the emotional impact of diabetes.

Ollie Bradley
15 years old
Living with Type 1 diabetes

"I think that having emotional counselling would be good. To have a place to go, just to let off a little bit of steam and talk about what's been going on."

Oliver's journey with diabetes

• Oliver was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 7 years old.
• He loves musical theatre and amateur dramatics.
• Oliver's mum, Sue, is a nurse and started to feel carer's fatigue – read Sue's story.

My emotions

Diabetes is frankly quite draining. It just takes up most of your mind so you don't really have much to do about anything else. You'll think you've got it cracked then something comes along and it will just throw everything out and you've got a restart all over again.

Emotional support could be very useful because we're all going to need it at some point, we all break at some point. I think that having emotional counselling would be good. So we have a little place to go, just to let off a little bit of steam and talk about what's been going on.

"He's scared and doesn't feel that he could cope with living with his diabetes and school. He said it all just feels too much and too overwhelming. It's okay to not be okay and we all have days that just aren't so good. You just go 'meh' and it's okay to have those days."

- Oliver's mum, Sue

School trips

I went on a school trip to Iceland. We were out for hours at a time and I've now been able to focus my skills on getting my blood sugars to be okay while doing those things.

"As he's growing up, he's got to learn to take care of himself, to keep himself safe and well and manage his diabetes independently. And Oliver had an amazing time, no issues at all during the trip. I want my child to have the same opportunities as any child." 

- Sue

Did you know that 7 out of 10 people have felt overwhelmed by the demands of living with diabetes? But most people can't get the emotional and mental health support they need. This has to change. If you agree, start by signing our petition.