My name is Adrianne I am 14 years old. I love make-up, clothes, shopping, my friends, and I am diabetic. I have had diabetes for 6 years this June. My brother Rory 11 years old is also diabetic. He has had it for 6 months longer than I have. Our Granddad Norman and Uncle Bill were insulin dependant from their forty's onwards. But both died quite early in their life, due to poor control with their diabetes.

The day I was diagnosed, I didn't really take it all in. For the past week I had been going to the loo more often, every hour probably more, and I kept drinking loads. I was always thirsty, very tired and run down. Mum and dad were getting used to the fact that Rory was diabetic but it never occurred to them that I could have it to. Mum took me to the doctors, and I had a blood test, my reading was 16.6mmlls, which is high but Rory was 33.5mmlls. We came home to tell dad. I remember dad was chatting to a neighbour across the road. We had to go to hospital because it was suspected "I had diabetes". We sped off up the road. I was worried by this time; mum and dad were disbelieving thinking another child with diabetes? We arrived at the hospital and went to the children's ward. I don't remember after that. I recall seeing family, friends, nurses and doctors around my bed though. Rory and I see it, as we will be diabetic for the rest of our lives mum says "it could be so much worse." We both agree completely with mum. We do hate having it, as it gets us down very often. Me more than Rory I think. Who doesn't hate injections?

Having diabetes doesn't stop us doing anything at all. We both wish we were never diagnosed with it, but we know no different now! Diabetes is a part of us both and will be forever. We would love to eat what we want, but we just can't. We seem normal to people until our blood levels go off the rails. It is horrible feeling that you are different. I feel unique compared to my friends. They are really good to me though they treat just the same as everyone else. They don't understand me really. They haven't seen me unconscious yet. Wouldn't know what to do. I am still the same person but with diabetes. I don't think they would know if I was hypo or not, because I don't like telling anyone that I am having a hypo, if it is really bad which has happened and I feel out of control I tell one of my friends. But usually I just deal with it on my own when I am in school or out. Which I am happy with doing. I sort myself out and then go back to lessons. Some days my mum has to be called in because they need her to sort me out. Or when my BM is high mum has to come in and do novo. When I am either high or low I get a really bad headache. I become tired, naggy, can't be bothered with no one at all, sleepy, hot, shaky, nasty, blurred vision, tearful and scared. Rory's symptoms are more or less the same as mine. When I am having a hypo I have a small can of coke or about 3 glucose tablets maybe more if I am really low. Then I have to have something to eat to keep my level stable, probably a packet of crisps or a sandwich. It takes me about 20minutes to get over a hypo. Then I am ready to carry on with what I was doing. In some instants mum has had to take me home, sort me out and give me dinner/food. Then its back to school for me.

It is good having a brother who is diabetic because we both have to do our injections and BM together and we are the same, it would be so much harder if it was just one of us, and not both of us, because one would be eating what they want, and that's not fair! We look out for each other all the time (= Rory helps me through my diabetes to, I feel we think the same and are very alike in are diabetes. If we could change how we are, then trust me we would. Rory says to everyone he would give all his pocket money to find a cure.

Every morning, mum's always there saying " Come downstairs now, need injections doing." We both moan and groan, but know it has to be done. Mum is always there saying "Got a snack? Got your BM meter? Got a drink?" It annoys us both that she says the same thing everyday again and again, but she is just worried about us. And doesn't want us to have a bad day in school by having a hypo. She wants us to be in control of ourselves. But we will both be fine as we have an Emergency box in a draw in school, with food glucose tablets and a drink. I absolutely hate having a hypo in school. I feel so alone! The teachers and the reception staff are a help. I tell the people I am closest to that I feel hypo and they take me down to the medical room. Once I get there I tell one of the members of staff and they sort me out. When I'm hypo I feel really emotional and scared. I also get tearful when my BM is high too. Diabetes is in my life and I can't change it. I have two injections a day, and have to do about 4 BM tests. I can't do my insulin myself yet; I really want to be able to. If I could I would be able to stay out longer and not be bothering mum all the time. I am getting older and need to be controlling my diabetes myself, and not be relying on other people. We have so many family members who are supporting and will be there for us anytime. Rory and I both know how important it is to look after our-selves as we could lose parts of our body or risk becoming blind. Rory already wears glasses.

I am having a quite bad time in school at the moment. Falling out with friends I have been friends with since I went up to high school, falling out with teachers. Answering back to teachers, bad behaviour, talkative, disruptive, and loud. I have always been the one that starts a conversation or something but it's getting me in so much trouble in school. I don't know what's wrong with me, I hope it's just a phase I'm going through. In a couple of months I hope I will turn around and say what was I doing that for? I hope I can settle down and do my best with my schoolwork. I want to have a good job when I'm older and now I am afraid I might get thrown out of school and mess my future up!

So that's mine and Rory's feelings and thoughts at the moment, about our condition - diabetes.