My best friend Leni, who I grew up with and I are walking the Twelve London Bridges (10 miles) to raise awareness for type 1 diabetes.

MY STORY                                                                                                                        I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on the 13th of August 2017. I had all the signs for Diabetes- 4 T's - THIRST, TOILET, THINNER, TIRED.  My mum was getting very worried so she took me to hospital. She had to carry me in as I was already too weak to walk - the 13th August was a Sunday. The doctor did a simple fingerpick test and drew some blood from my finger, which would become my new normal - I have to prick my finger many times a day to check my blood sugar as my life basically depends on it. If I inject too much - or too little insulin it can have terrible consequences. Diabetes needs to be managed 24/7 as food, weather, growth, excitement, exercise all play a big part in diabetes management. 

When I was diagnosed my blood sugar reading was 29 (4-7 is normal) with severe DKA. The doctors said I was lucky that I did not end up in a diabetic coma. When I finally  got released from hospital my head was in such a blur. I had all this new information of how to live my life. My parents kept telling me  to think positive  and to embrace whatever life throws at you and to never stop doing the things you love. 

A year in I hiked and skied my favourite mountains in Austria,  went rafting in an ice cold wild river, galloped through fields with my dad and went paragliding for the first time, I had a few sleepovers with my friends, went on a school trip away to Devon and started to learn to live with the beast. A year in Diabetes is still tough at times, but I will not let it win! A year in it still requires 24/7 management which can be very exhausting and draining. But a year in I also feel calmer about Diabetes. A year in I want to raise money for Diabetes, because we need a cure!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.