My name is Courtney. I am 13 years old and this is how I started with diabetes and how I am getting on. I have also included my feelings and thoughts about diabetes.

It all started when I was 10 I was feeling really ill all the time, I also went to the toilet and drank more than usual. So my mum and dad took me to the hospital because they thought I was starting with diabetes. My uncle has diabetes and that was how he felt when he started with diabetes. I had lots of tests while I was in hospital and I didn't know what was going on until a doctor came to me and told me I had to go on a ward for a while because he has to tell me, my mum and dad something. When we got to the ward I was sat on a bed and the doctor told me I had diabetes. I was very confused by this because I didn't know what diabetes was for all I knew is that I was ill and had to stay in hospital for a while, I thought it was just a bug and could get better. Later that day a special nurse called a diabetes nurse came to me and tried to teach me a little about diabetes I was fine about it until she said needles then I started to panic because I was scared of needles.

Then another nurse came with the syringes so I could have a go at giving myself a needle and I started to really panic then because I didn't want needles and I was really scared. Then one of the wards nurses came because she heard me crying and told me to have a go in her arm to prove that it doesn't hurt. So I did and she didn't budge a bit, that boosted my confidence.

The next day a diatrition came to tell me all about what foods were best for me and that I couldn't eat foods that had loads of sugar in them such as chocolate, sweets and fizzy pop unless it was diet or zero. I found this very hard because I knew for a fact that everyone in my school will be eating things with loads of sugar. So I knew it was going to be difficult for me. Later that day I was given a small thing that looked like a mp3 or something but in fact it was a blood glucose meter. I thought it looked like a cool little gadget, that I was going to be the only person in my school to have one. They showed me how to use it and explained what it was then told me to have a go. So I did and found it surprisingly easy because I thought it would be quite confusing. After a few hours I was discharged and aloud to go home, but before I went I was given several leaflets and a folder with activity and fact books in it.

Every couple of weeks one of my diabetes nurses would come to my house to see how I was coping with diabetes. This happened for about a month or two. Then I had to go to the hospital once a month for regular check ups at the childrens hospital. While at these check ups I had to be measured, weighed and had to see both my diabetes nurse and diatrition. I found that I had lost a lot of weight threw diabetes, I lost 2 and a half stone and I didn't do anything to try and lose weight I just did and its made a dramatic difference now i have lost weight I feel a lot more confident.

I am now 13 years old, I have now had diabetes for 3 and a half years. I am now taking three injections a day, I am now using Innovo and novopens instead of syringes. I am using Mixtard 30, Novo Rapid and Levemir. Now my blood sugar levels are not quite stable yet due to my hormones.

I am learning to carbohydrate count because I am having Novo Rapid before my evening meal. I am thinking about having a insulin pump because I think it would be a lot better for me, has I dislike having injections all the time and I dislike getting my injection out all the time in front of friends and other people. If I had a insulin pump all I would have to do is lift my top up a little bit and press how much I insulin I need.

I am awaiting for my diabetes nurse that is coming to my house next week, to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a pump fitted. If I have one I will let you know my points of view about living with a pump fitted. If I don't have it fitted I will let you know the reasons why.