💉22 months post T1D diagnosis

🏃‍♀️26.2 miles

🩸16 glucose scans

💰£8000+ raised

⌚️4:34:49 official time

♾️Infinite love and support from family, friends, colleagues, health professionals, the charity and running/marathon communities (not to mention the incredible atmosphere and cheers from the wonderful crowds of London, event organisers, volunteers and fellow participants on the day)!

In June 2021, I was admitted to A&E following blurred vision, weight loss, stomach pain and several other symptoms.

The incredible care and action from my optician, pharmacist, GP and the hospital meant that I was detected in the early stage of ketoacidosis (DKA) and treated before this became life-threatening.

I was put on glucose, insulin, potassium and saline drips and kept in for 4 days. After blood tests, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and told that I’d need to rely on insulin injections for the rest of my life.

T1D is an autoimmune condition - the immune system mistakenly attacks the beta cells, meaning the pancreas can’t produce insulin (the hormone needed to use glucose for energy). My doctors believe this autoimmune reaction was triggered by coronavirus which I had a few months prior.

I’m adjusting to a new life: blood testing before I eat, exercise, sleep and drive; calculating carbohydrate:insulin:activity ratios; injecting insulin; managing hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia.

I ran the marathon to raise money for Diabetes UK, raise awareness of what T1D actually is and to prove to myself that I don’t need to give up on things that were on my bucket list pre-diagnosis.

35mins before my start time, my glucose level was 3.7 - I treated this hypo and started the run confidently. I checked my glucose 16 times whilst running (via the FreeStyle Libre sensor) and consumed carbs in line with my trending arrows to ensure that I had enough glucose to keep going. All of my readings were in range and I safely completed the marathon without further hypos. I celebrated what my body can still do, rather than what it can’t.

By carefully managing carb:insulin:activity ratios, diabetics can still take on physically demanding challenges even if it is complex, frustrating and frightening.

T1D cannot be prevented - it isn’t caused by lifestyle, however, if managed incorrectly, it can lead to other health complications. I want to raise money to fund research (one day, I hope we find a cure) and improve treatment so that diabetics get the correct advice, care and technology needed to live well and to prevent what can be prevented. 

Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to learn, support and sponsor!

Donations can be collected until Friday 26th May 2023 - any contributions would be enormously appreciated!