Diabetes really shouldn't be a problem. However, saying this, 14 years having it and I still haven't really got a clue? It's annoying how diabetes is so complicated that nobody will ever get it perfect. But when you actually think about it, is it really that complicated at all?

Ok so I got diabetes at 3 and I guess I've been pretty lucky in that I've not had much trouble with it over the years. It's actually given me loads of opportunities. I have friends that I would never have met if I didn't have diabetes, and by friends I don't mean I see them at diabetes related events (don't go to those anymore!), I mean we actually are as good friends as with someone you meet at school or college.

When I was diagnosed I was the youngest person at the hospital to have ever got diabetes so I was in the local paper and a few years on I opened a new centre. So I've grown up with diabetes pretty much my whole life and I think that's better than if I'd got it a few years ago - a lot less to give up at 3!

Primary school. When I was in primary school diabetes didn't really affect anything I did, you can still do anything you want it's just the adults watch over you more than the other kids and they all know everything about you. You don't really notice at that age though do you.

High school - new friends, new teachers, new people to tell about diabetes. "Don't forget to tell the teachers in case you need to eat in class" yes mum. "Don't forget to have a snack or do a test before P.E or hockey" yes mum. "Make sure your form tutor knows" yes mum! I had no problems in high school; half of my friends didn't even know I had diabetes. When it got to year 11, some of the younger kids used to look when I did insulin, think they thought I was a drug addict or something.

COLLEGE! The good times. I study biology at college, and in that, we study diabetes. This means my teacher asks me to teach it to the class! Makes you realise how much there actually is to know about diabetes and how interested other people can be with it. It's nice to have people show an interest in your life, a lot of people say that they don't usually dare ask about it in case it's annoying. I really don't mind at all though, its just part of who you are, like having asthma or hay fever. It's actually a really common problem.

College age = Party time. It's when you start going to 18th birthday parties pretty much every week that you'd think you'd get problems! Trips away, alcohol & friends = not wanting to be bothered with food at the right times & getting annoyed with carrying stuff with you everywhere you go. But, it's also then when you realise that diabetes isn't that bad at all, you get ups and downs but if you're careful, you can do anything you want. Festivals, gigs, even trips to Disneyland! All without diabetes being too much of an issue.

University - 6 months time and I'll be away from home, out in the big wide world dealing with cooking, going out more. To be honest, I can't wait!

Diabetes really doesn't have to be a problem, talk to your nurse/doctor about it if you have ANY problem, mine were great with me even when I rung them at 2am cause I took the wrong insulin!

And just remember, when you have close friends, they will do all they can to look out for you, even remind you to test your sugar if you forget so tell them! Another thing, no matter how bad you feel or how bad things are going, someone else probably has the same problems, just talk to somebody. Everybody gets down about it now and then; it's scary to think that it's something you'll have to deal with probably for forever (unless they sort out something with pigs or whatever they're doing nowadays).

Never forget, there will always be someone worse off in the world than you are, count yourself lucky.