ROUND TWO - NO MORE STRESS FRACTURES LETS GOOOOO

Hello hello, lovely to have you here on my London Marathon 2026 (EEK) fundraising page for Diabetes UK.

Now hopefully you’ve come across this page with the intention of learning a wee bit more about, and donating generously to, me attempting to run a wildly out-of-my-league distance... If not, then a great accident I’d say (and please stay and please do donate generously xoxo).

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes out of the blue about four years ago. No family history, no dramatic event—just persistent tiredness. During a routine blood test to check my iron levels (I was in denial about burnout), my blood glucose levels were flagged as dangerously high. It was thanks to a nurse, trained by Diabetes UK, who caught this, that I got the follow-up care I needed.

After countless tests, hospital trips, and even more medication, I finally got the T1D diagnosis. Turns out, I wasn’t just tired—my pancreas was broken.

When I was diagnosed, I had no idea what it truly meant. I didn’t know how diabetes would impact someone’s life—or anyone living with a T1D, for that matter. I didn’t know any other diabetics, and I had no clue how it would affect my work, social life, or training. Honestly, I probably couldn’t have told you what a pancreas did.

On top of that, having struggled with anorexia throughout my teenage years—eventually being hospitalised for it—my first thought after the diagnosis was fear. The idea of counting carbs and monitoring everything I ate felt like it could trigger old habits. I had finally gotten comfortable eating without obsessing over labels, so how was I supposed to go back to counting everything again? I was terrified.

But from the moment I got my diagnosis, the support from healthcare professionals, advice from Diabetes UK support and guidance from other diabetics (ooohh diabetic friends) that I’ve received has 100% got me through the hardest days.

And yeah, diabetes is hard. But here’s the thing, being T1D is a change to the way of life, but it is a LIFE. A life, thanks to research, medication progress and innovation funded by Diabetes UK, that allows us, ALL diabetics, to live. I can eat almost everything I’d like, I can train harder and better, socialise with ease and to manage a disease that only a few decades ago would have killed me.

I’m running for Diabetes UK in the London 2026 Marathon because the support, information, and guidance they provide have been a game changer for me since my very first visit to the doctor. If the healthcare professional hadn’t been trained by Diabetes UK, my diagnosis could have been far more traumatic—or even undiagnosed for much longer. Without their resources on living with diabetes, carb counting, and supporting my friends and family, I wouldn’t be in the position I am now.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have received this support, and now I'm combining my love for running (and post-run coffees) with a charity that's close to my heart. I believe in a future where diabetes isn’t life-limiting, and I’m honored to play even a small part in making that a reality.

Over the next few months, I’m going to be doing my bit to share more around the work Diabetes UK does, bust some myths, share some incredible stories from others like me AND update on navigating the ups and downs of training for a marathon with Type 1 Diabetes…

I’d love to keep you all up to date with this, so nip on over to my insta (@emmalindzz / https://www.instagram.com/emmalindzz/) for more. And if you’ve made it to the end of my novel, bravo, go click that donate button and I’ll see you on the streets on London in April 2026. Original veggie percy pigs and water welcome xo.

OKAY THANKS YOU’RE THE BEST. LETS GOOOOOO X