Beth Weaver, 29 set up the group after her daughter Ava, 4 was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Beth, a teaching assistant from Newborough in Anglesey, has three children, including Ava. Ava was rushed to hospital with DKA and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2019.
Last year, Beth decided to set up a Facebook Diabetes Group in Anglesey, as she signed up to become a Diabetes UK Cymru volunteer. She's a Welsh speaker and has been interviewed on Welsh media to talk about the 4Ts campaign to raise awareness of diabetes symptoms in children, based on her daughter's experience.
Beth said: "I decided to set up an online community because we didn't get much support when Ava was diagnosed. We also didn't know anybody else who was going through the same thing in the area. So, I wanted to develop an online community where people who have been diagnosed or who have family with diabetes can all support and help each other. I have learnt so much from our group members, and I no longer feel alone"
The group started locally attracting members from Anglesey and North Wales. It became firmly established online and now has 316 members, including some people from other countries.
Beth's group is a peer-to-peer support platform where people can connect and discuss various topics about diabetes. They talk about diets, hypos, controlling type 2 diabetes, technology and where to find support if you are newly diagnosed.
Beth said she had plans to grow the group: "I hope to be able to organise face to face meetings and also reach out to more people and grow the community. I have found that a lot of parents and grandparents of people living with diabetes don't get enough support. So I really want to make sure they know someone is here to listen and we are all going through the same thing."
You can take a look at Beth's group on Facebook.
