Usually at this time of year I start harrying my friends and acquaintances for sponsorship to run the Great North Run. I am running the GNR again, but my focus is on double the distance - the Yorkshire Marathon on 16th October.

Elizabeth was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes 3 years ago. She had all the classic symptoms:

Thirst! Toilet! Tiredness! Thin!

But like most parents didn’t spot it, neither did the first doctor, until it was almost too late. After a rough 24hrs in hospital she emerged, requiring multiple doses of insulin, as background, or to counter the effect of food. In addition to the long term risks of high blood sugars (blindness, blocked blood vessels, kidney failure) she is also at risk of low blood sugars, which can cause unconsciousness and death.

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas (unlike type 2, where diet and lifestyle are contributory factors, and the insulin can’t access the cells to release the energy within).

JDRF undertake research to prevent Type 1 Diabetes, and make the lives of those suffering from T1D easier by improving insulin delivery techniques.