"All people out there, exercise a lot to keep away from diabetes and the ones who are diabetic, please get regular eye and kidney check ups."
'Matthew's proudest achievement this year was being awarded Sports Personality of the Year at his school's sports awards evening.'
"I want to share my story to inspire others and give them hope that they can lead a fairly normal life with diabetes."
"The support I received from Diabetes UK during the early stages of my diagnosis was amazing - I don't think I would have coped as well without it."
"You never know you might (or someone you know), be told that you are suffering from diabetes one day."
'By putting a structured education programme in place, people with the condition and their carers will have access to good information when they need it most.'
'I’m always on the look out for unconventional ways of raising money for charity. Part of the appeal to me was that the Ice Run had never been attempted before, so everything was unknown.'
"I did it was to prove to myself I could compete and finish this challenge without my diabetes being a hindrance."
'The Marathon took over my waking thoughts and probably my sleeping ones for months.'
'My mother could spend all day sticking a needle in an orange but when it came to a screaming four year old - no way.'
'You can achieve great things with your life'
Eighties chart topper Mari Wilson who has Type 1 diabetes, is about to bring out a new album and start her new UK tour. Here, she talks about her new work and living with diabetes.
'This isn't a story about the risks, dangers and ultimate consequences, it is about understanding and respecting the condition.'
'I guess I just want to raise awareness of what can happen if you don't take care of yourself.'
'To date I have lost two stone in weight and feel very positive for the future.'
'When I was young we used to use a single 'glass' syringe which had to be boiled once a week and cleaned.'
'Our group has been nominated for so many awards and I myself was nominated in this year's prestigious John Ireland award.'
It’s been 90 years since people started using insulin to treat diabetes. It’s certainly kept me alive for over eight of those nine decades and has allowed me to have a family, a career and enjoy life to the full.
'I questioned myself for years, but now I believe it's made me stronger.'
'Prior to this I felt that diabetes controlled me and stopped me from living the life I wanted.'
'I am convinced now that excellent nutrition and exercise are key to combating my health problems.'
'All I could think was please God make sure my spine is OK so I can walk. I don't care about the £3,000 I just spent last week buying my new car.'
Members of the DAFNE Users Action Group talk about championing an education course that has changed their lives and given them the freedom to manage their diabetes, rather than let it manage them.
"With a smile on your face you can face it and we put our smiles on every morning"
World champion sailor, author and husband of 59 years. Here, the daughter of Roy Partridge - who had Type 1 diabetes - talks about her father's life achievements.
If one person attends this event and goes away understanding more about this condition, I’ll be happy....
"I have been a Type 1 diabetic for nearly 40 years and for the last three have been using an insulin pump."
"What a sense of achievement when you reach the top having just cycled it and not got off your bike and walked it."
I think it would have been worse if I had got diabetes later in life. I would be more used to eating certain foods and perhaps not have followed the healthier diet that I have now.
'I have never hidden my condition and do not feel embarrassed by it '
"I am definitely feeling much fitter from the challenge and have fewer aches than I previously had."
Diabetics are great planners, so diabetes should not prevent you from doing anything, you just need to plan ahead.
"Change is really the key. In a small way you do have to redefine who you are and what you do as a diabetic. Doing something new is important."
"I have to say that the overall experience of running for charity was a hugely positive one."
"Through the generosity of everyone concerned, it is likely I have three or four times more than I thought."
'My mother helped me learn how to be disciplined. But most of all she showed me how I was one of the lucky ones.'
I thought something was wrong just before the bike ride, but it soon became very clear, I was really not well.
"I really enjoyed the challenge and I'm so pleased that Diabetes UK have got over £350 from the generous sponsors."
"We have already noticed the difference in our fitness."
'Yes, I am still obese but now I have hope.'
"Life can get back on track…….this is just a hiccup."
'It was my brother’s idea to raise money for Diabetes UK, in fact he said he wouldn’t do it for any other charity.'
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on 16 September 1958. I was just four-years-old and had to spend three months in the Birmingham Childrens Hospital.
I have enjoyed a wonderful life with very minor health problems.
'I have this constant paranoia of collapsing again.'
'Our aim this year is to promote awareness across all age groups, as we all know the younger group is very hard to reach at times.'
"I have never really been shy about injecting or talking to people about my diabetes."
"I injected once in a public space and heard someone say look at that poor bloke having to do that."
Before qualifying and before each race while most drivers are getting their focus, Craig is checking his blood glucose level and trying to balance it.
If manually performing the job of an organ is not already enough, the concept of doing it while backpacking around the world was daunting to say the least. But it was, as I had hoped, the best five months of my life.
More than £2,500 was raised for Diabetes UK by staff at Lloydspharmacy who took part in their own Walk in the Park event.
"My mum struggled every day to inject, feed and care for me without the knowledge and equipment that is now freely available."
"I have seen many positive changes in the way people with diabetes are cared for over the years."
"My decision to become a doctor was influenced by my condition and by Dr Lawrence."
"RD Lawrence was a practical, sensible and quiet man. I found him to be a warm, special and wonderful person."
As a group we have sponsored the purchase of 50 boxes to be used on the wards of the North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple as hypo kits.
When I was first diagnosed the specialist said, ‘don’t let it rule your life’ and this has been my motto to this day”.
'Having diabetes for 75 years has made me a very disciplined person. I value my health and still try to keep fit.'
'I’m glad to say that having diabetes has never stopped me doing anything and the equipment is much better now than when I was diagnosed 61 years ago.'
"My daughter developed Type 1 diabetes when she was three years old, while we were holidaying in Australia. That was just the start of a very long, challenging adventure."
"Before I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes I was not a happy person. I was on the outside, but on the inside I was totally miserable. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes on 17 June 2005 and I really believe it saved my life."
"My cognitive function was so impaired that I had short-term memory problems, could not hold a conversation and could not recognise faces. It got to the stage where I could barely go out as I couldn't cope: it was like having early dementia."
The group learnt so much about dealing with diabetes at their special sessions. I had no idea how much difference a week could make to them and their confidence.
"Why, oh why, do we always read 'Diabetes ... blah blah blah ... how I've conquered it' ... 'how I have now climbed some mountain - real or metaphorical'? I ain't done nothing, me!"
"To me, being diabetic is about living a healthy life, taking responsibility, and respecting that fact that while you can do the majority of things other people do, you always bear in mind the fact that you just have to take a little more care."
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on the 5 February 1985 at the mere age of 12 - this was a big change for me.
Maggi Broadbent, 21, from Dinnington, Hinton St George, set herself a ‘Maggi’s Marathons’ challenge.
I want to share my story with you all as it's imperative you look after yourself and aren't in denial. Whenever you feel down, share your feelings and fears – don't hide them away.
Following the huge success of our first Diabetes UK Shark Dives last year, four more intrepid volunteers took the plunge for our charity at the Blue Planet Aquarium this April!
“If my fundraising helps just one person with diabetes lead a better and longer life then it would mean more than anything in the world to me."
“I am really chuffed the evening came together so well and we managed to raise so much. Funds are still coming in so I hope we’ll be able to reach our target of £10,000.”
'The weight started to come off and my insulin requirements rapidly reduced.'
'I liken injecting insulin to cleaning your teeth or having a shower. The only difference is that I don’t do it to keep clean - I do it to stay alive.'
'It has absolutely changed my life. The control is so much better and depsite it being attached all the time, it is far less hassle.'
"We are hopeful that my suger levels should be regulated in the next few months and we will then be able to conceive again."
'For once in my life I did not feel I was being told off, but was treated with respect and empathy.'
'Training for these events is great fun and has a massive positive effect on my diabetes control.'
"You can let diabetes take over your life which is demoralising, or you can take control."
"I wanted to raise money for Diabetes UK, but more importantly to show my son he is an inspiration to me."
"Motocross is one of the most physical sports in the world and trying to balance my energy levels was the hardest part."
"Injections were horrible huge needles, glass syringes which involved boiling them to keep them sterilised."