It’s really important that people understand what type 1 diabetes is – an autoimmune condition where the body attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. I hope that greater awareness of the signs and symptoms will lead to earlier detection and getting medical help sooner. This is why I supported Diabetes UK with my own fundraising activity at work and by taking part in a charity walk to help increase awareness of diabetes and raise funds for their vital work.

For others finding themselves in a similar situation to me, my advice would be to educate yourself as much as possible. Reach out to support groups, use your medical team, and ask all the questions.

Don’t feel alone. Knowledge is power, and understanding your diabetes can help you make better decisions and feel more in control.  It’s also important to recognise that managing diabetes involves both physical and mental health. Remember to prioritise self-care.

For family members and friends – being there, being supportive, and also broadening your understanding of the condition is the best thing you can do. Your encouragement and positivity can be incredibly uplifting. Offering to join in activities or help with meal planning means a lot – your involvement shows that you care and that we’re in this together.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2019 when I was 10. Since then my younger sister, Tilly, was also diagnosed with type 1 so we’ve been managing the ups and downs together.  

I have been involved with Diabetes UK's Together Type 1 team for around a year now. The team has been so supportive to me individually and also have given me the opportunity to meet and get to know other people with type 1. For me it’s made diabetes more of a community rather than just a struggle I have to manage by myself.  

Before going on my bronze Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) expedition I was nervous about how I was going to manage my diabetes on top of the walking. I couldn’t find any online resources for people with diabetes embarking on a DofE expedition.  

I have now completed my bronze and silver DofE levels. These are some of the things I’ve learned that I thought might help other people with type 1 thinking of attempting DofE. 

I returned home initially for the first five weeks and then went back to university. My friends were super supportive, which was lovely, and coincidently there was another girl in the orchestra with me who was also type 1 so we spent a bit of time together, and having her there was a great support in helping me to understand my diabetes.

For the first few months, the university was great. They put my student support programme in place, and I was able to get adjustments and extensions on deadlines and exams.

A few months on from my diagnosis, I found out about the Diabetes UK Youth programme Together Type 1 and within that you have Young Leaders and so I joined the group and that’s been an ongoing support network for me. We’re all aged between 16-25 and living with type 1 diabetes.

I joined mostly to help other people going through a diagnosis experience like me, and also to hopefully meet other people who understood what I was experiencing. It was important for me to learn all I could about diabetes, in particular type 1, so I could feel more secure and confident about my condition.

Jane was a member of Diabetes UK. So, I let them know she’d passed away. And after that they kept in touch.  And on one occasion, they said, ‘Why don’t you come and have a walk?’ I wanted to do something in her memory. I’d done runs in the past for my local hospice but not a walk. 

I enjoyed the walk very much. I met other people and most of us had a notice on our backs to say why we were walking. One young girl’s said: “I’m 13 and I’m not living with diabetes, diabetes is living with me.” That was a very good response! 

Mine said: “I am walking because last year, I lost my dearly beloved partner of 39 years from DKA and I want to increase knowledge of it.” 

My wife and I like to support a new charity each year through her line dance class, and this year, Diabetes UK seemed like a great fit. Within each year we try to raise money through our social nights, table quizzes, line dance demonstrations etc. Previously, my wife even took on a skydive for Air Ambulance, despite having such a fear of heights!

Whilst I don’t have diabetes myself, I know it can be such a debilitating illness and I’ve learnt a lot from my friends who have the condition themselves. This year I’m really driven to do this in support of them and all in our local area who have experience of the condition.

Pushing yourself

I’m not a cyclist as such, so that is why this is such a significant challenge for me. In advance, I train by doing a hilly 20 or 40-mile cycle when I get time, however, I also pilot tandems most Saturdays for partially sighted and blind people through a charity called Lisburn Outlook. That has been a great way to help me train.

The Lough can be completed in a few less miles but there’s just something about completing 100 miles that is quite a milestone. Each year, I tend to add in an extra route to take it over the 100-mile mark, usually around 103 miles by the time I am home. I must say, I’m usually digging deep for the last 20-30 miles and it’s then that sponsorship and community support that really see me through to the end!

If anyone is thinking about taking on a fundraising challenge, then I would wholeheartedly encourage you to go for it! Yes, it can be difficult and time-consuming, but what better feeling to know that you’ve pushed yourself outside of your comfort zone to support others – purely because you can!