'I learnt how to make diabetes fit into what I wanted to do.'

I was diagnosed with Type 1 at the age of 21. At the time I was studying at a university in the USA. I gradually became unwell, with what I now know are quite typical diabetes symptoms, over the course of a couple of months. It wasn’t until I returned home for the summer that I finally realised I needed to visit the doctor because friends and family were shocked by how unwell and thin I looked.

Soon after I went onto insulin I started to feel a lot better, only realising when I started to get better how ill I had actually been feeling. I did find adapting to having diabetes, and the different routine that this meant, very difficult, however, and for the first 18 months my control was poor.

The turning point for me came when I was given a place on a DAFNE course locally. Prior to this I felt that diabetes controlled me and stopped me from living the life I wanted. Learning the DAFNE principles gave me more control and I learnt how to make diabetes fit into what I wanted to do.

Since doing DAFNE I have had a desire to always prove that being diabetic wouldn’t stop me doing anything. I now set myself a physical challenge every year: in the past I have run half marathons and gone sky-diving and white-water rafting; this year I am going to take part in the Three Peaks Challenge.

A big thing for me in coming to terms with being diabetic was having the opportunity to meet with other diabetics. Having friends with diabetes makes you realise you’re not alone. Having benefitted from joining support groups for diabetics in other areas I now run a group for young diabetics in Norfolk so that other people can have the same experience.

– Words by Amy Turner