The power of support and becoming a Young Leader
With a supportive family around her Katie handled the diagnosis, learned to manage the condition and headed back out into the world, taking type 1 diabetes with her. Following her diagnosis she trained and took part in an ultra-marathon.
While on the surface she was coping well, the underlying worries and feelings of being alone with the condition were there as well. Katie says that she has since discovered that many young people who have a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes as a teenager or young adult go through a similar experience - the feeling a bit of an “outsider” in their peer group.
Katie has signed up to become a Young Leader for Diabetes UK to use her experience to help other young people navigate type 1 diabetes.
She says:
“I was so pleased when I spoke to my former work colleague - we could relate to each other and I want to offer that to other people. it's great to be in a room with people who understand you in a way that others might not.”