"I am one of three Type 1 diabetics in a family of four."

Richard, pictured left, holding nephew Gabriel, and brother Graham (right), holding daughter Jasmine.

I am one of three 'Type 1' diabetics in a family of four. In fact we have made it the family business. The clan is made up of my Dad (diagnosed at 10), myself (at 17 years old) and my younger brother (at 18).

Pros - I am very rarely short of supplies. My mum has to spread the worry amongst the group (thereby reducing nagging), we can all talk about our worries together.

Cons - We need a big fridge! Okay, so this is a light hearted way to view a serious condition, however, in reality having a family of diabetics leads to seeing the truth and reality behind coping with and managing the impacts of diabetes.

On one side, growing up I saw the worst. Unfortunately my dad, after 30 years of diabetes, the problems started. This meant that my brother and I grew up watching him deteriorate from the early days of neuropathy and retinopathy to eventually death. He sadly passed away in 2006 as a result of a combination of health issues.

On the otherside, however, this isn't a story about the risks, dangers and ultimate consequences, it is about understanding and respecting the condition and making the most of it.

My dad didn’t respect it for many years, the frustration and anger got the better of him, then at the age of 30 he met a doctor that simply said, “just be yourself and don’t let it change you.” Strange way of putting it? Yes. True? Most definitely! For my Dad, maybe some of the damage had been done, but for me it is this message passed on that has meant after ten years I am fitter and healthier than I have ever been.

I travelled the world for a year, I play sport five times a week, I go out to eat and drink just as much as anyone would. I am just me. The family of diabetics is now diluted from 3 in 4 to 2 in 5 due to my brothers beautiful young children.

The important message my dad taught us continues - be ourselves and for the rest we will just try to avoid passing on the family business. On a final note, having recently joined Diabetes UK and looking through the website I agree with many others that the message around being diabetic is wrong… “you shouldn’t eat that should you… you can’t do this activity can you?”

The reality is we are the same as everyone else when it comes down to it: exercise regularly, eat well, avoid smoking and everything in moderation. I am not pretending I don’t have my moments of frustration, but I don’t have that anger about it. Anger I have unfortunately learnt, kills.

Words by Richard