On 30th December 2012, my little girl - just 9 days after her 5th birthday -was diagnosed with Type 1 (insulin dependent) Diabetes.  One minute she was a healthy little girl who just had a cold, like the rest of the family did that winter, the next our world was shattered when we were told she has a life long, incurable, chronic and potentially life threatening illness.

Being quite unaware and ignorant about Diabetes, it took a long time to fully understand how to incorporate the constant monitoring of blood glucose levels, administration of insulin and maintaining general good health into our daily routine.  My little girl, Ruby has been completely amazing and has adapted to this huge change better than I could have ever imagined.  She is fortunate in that she has been given an insulin pump rather than injections but this does involve changing a cannula in her bottom linked to the pump which Ruby finds painful and she is genuinely scared everytime we change it (every 3 days).

She has her blood glucose levels checked up to 12 times in a 24 hour period which involves using a small lancet to pierce the skin on her little fingers to provide a drop of blood.  Her monitor tells us what her level is in a few seconds and then depending on the figure, we administer insulin, glucose or sigh with relief if the figure is 'normal' and wait for the next test.  Her little hands are full of tiny puncture wounds.

It's a constant battle keeping Ruby's levels regulated.  If she falls to low, she could have seizures and slip into a coma and worst case may not wake up.  If her levels go too high, she could develop a potentially fatal condition called DKA.  Obviously either scenario is not an option for us, hence the vigorous testing of her blood each day.  Apart from these terrifying outcomes, poor daily management could have serious consequences for her in later life such as kidney problems, loss of vision, circulatory issues which could result in amputation along with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

There are millions of Diabetics across the world and this number is ever increasing, my little girl didn't develop this illness from eating too much sugar, poor diet, no exercise as some would like to believe, she is a very slim, energetic, intelligent, fit, 6 year old with a great diet. Diabetes is an autoimmune disease which means her immune system attacked her own cells, in this case her insulin producing cells in her pancreas.

There have been so many advances in controlling the condition in recent years but there is real hope for a cure in the pipeline with advances in nano-technology and/or creating some sort of artificial pancreas.

Please, please dig out a little spare change, or more, if you are flush and donate to this very worthy cause that could help save the lives and spare the daily torment of those suffering with Diabetes.

Thank you so very much x