Story
You probably know me as fun-loving cheeky Oli. And I am just like any other seven year old - I love Lego especially Ninjago, all things Spurs, going to Pizza Express, playing football, dancing to Michael Jackson, mucking about at Beavers, joking about poo and farts, singing in the school choir, doing jigsaws, flossing and Greatest Showman appreciation sessions with my little sister Alice.
I also have diabetes. I've been living with Type 1 for a year. This means that my pancreas doesn't work properly. I have an insulin pump attached to me 24/7 - that's what is in the pouch you might have seen me wearing at school. Whenever I'm about to eat or do some exercise I need to do a finger prick test to check my blood glucose and either have more insulin to stop me from going too high or fast-acting sugar to stop me from going too low. Some days I might have 15 finger prick tests! I have to 'carb count' all meals and snacks too.
It can be a bit annoying especially in the night when I get woken up for finger prick tests or because I need extra sugar. Sometimes I have to sit quietly instead of playing with my friends if I am going low and I usually have to plan meals carefully to avoid highs or lows. On the plus side I get to eat lots of jelly babies and play games on Dad's phone when I'm having my insulin kit changed (every three days).
I want to raise money to make life better for people who have Type 1 diabetes. To do this I've decided to take on my biggest challenge yet - running 5km in the Bushy Park Run. I run around a lot but I don't think I have run this far before, not even by accident on the football pitch! Most importantly I want to beat Dad! Some of my friends are going to run with me too.
Unlike Type 2, Type 1 is not reversible and nothing to do with my diet, so we need the Type 1 scientists to find better ways to manage it day to day. Diagnosis is growing at 4% so the problem is getting worse. We really need to help. I hope you are able to support Type 1 research. Thank you for reading my message.