After watching her sister die from a diabetes-related illness, Julie decided that she wasn't going to ignore her own diabetes.
I discovered I was Type two diabetic nearly four years ago and before this had been trying to support my sister who had Type one diabetes.
My sister just didn't want to listen, she ignored her diabetes and landed up losing half her leg and then going on dialysis.
After watching her die from a diabetes-related illness I decided that no way was diabetes going to change my life.
So from then on I decided that I was going to take control of my life and my diabetes (Julie, pictured left, one year on). I wanted to volunteer to give something back so I now volunteer every year at the big Tesco collection.
I have done this twice and both times they said they raised more than they ever had which made my day so thank you to Newport and Ystradmuanch Tesco's as I've enjoyed it so much.
But not only this I have turned my life around. I eat healthily and have lost nearly four stone in weight by eating sensibly and not in-between meals.
It's important to have a planed menu to choose from. Keeping a list of healthy meals on my fridge has really helped me and I will mix them up through the week. If you get stuck for ideas you can ask friends or look on Diabetes UK website to tempt or encourage you.
I drink lots of water - Ilove water because it's so good for you. I have also kept up walking and taken up gardening which I love,
But recently I have taken up arts and crafts so I have things to do on dark nights to keep me busy. Most of the time people eat just because they are bored and now I don't even think of food because I'm so busy.
I love the new me - don't get me wrong I miss my sister so much, but I can't bring her back. I know my sister would be proud that I have now changed my life and am no longer on Metformin.
I am so pleased - I knew I could do it. I have to change the cycle for me and my family and most of all my sister I know she would be proud - God bless her.
