In April 2017 I will be running the Virgin London Marathon for Diabetes UK. I feel the understanding within the general public about diabetes tends to be quite limited and usually just that diabetics can't have sugar (they can, just not too much!!). Many people are unaware that there are two types and although there are similarities, the cause and management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are very different. 

For me type 1 has a personal connection as I have grown up with a close family member with this disease. It plays a part in every minute of each day, from what food they eat, to how much they sleep, their mood and how active they are. Everything that is done must be considered, carefully monitored in relation to insulin and balanced. It is a way of life.

To our family this is now "normal" life but for most people it is an unfamiliar world. As the way we live changes, particularly technology, there have been significant advances in management of type 1 such as the external insulin pump acting as an 'artificial pancreas'. However there is a long way to go for a more seamless solution and its application in practice this is why I am running for Diabetes UK.

It is the largest diabetes related charity in the UK and their work is crucial for enabling further funding and research as well as helping people manage day to day life with this disease.

An overview of both types of diabetes:

• TYPE 1 DIABETES is an autoimmune disease, which means it results from the immune system mistakenly attacking parts of the body. In type 1 diabetes, the individuals immune system attacks its own insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Nobody knows why this occurs, or how to stop it. The immune systems of people with type 1 diabetes continue to attack the insulin producing cells until the pancreas is incapable of producing insulin anymore.

• TYPE 2 DIABETES is more common among older people and usually associated with being overweight and not very active. The body can't control the amount of sugar in the blood and doesn't respond to insulin properly. This causes the level of sugar in the blood to become too high.

Please donate as much or as little as you can to support this charity, and also to motivate me through the long cold winter training runs. I really appreciate everyones support and hope to see lots of you on April 23rd!!!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page

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