Hello I'm Rachel and I'm 12 years old and this is where it all started :

It all started when we were travelling back and forth to Aberdeen with my little brother who had been diagnosed with diabetes eight months before. On the 29th October 1999 we were at the hospital when my mum mentioned to the Doctor that I had been drinking a lot so I got checked. That's when I found out that I was diabetic like my dad and my brother.

At first it was hard to understand why I need to have two injections a day but with my Mum doing my injections we manage to control my bloods quite easily. As I got older I managed to do my own bloods and started to do my own injections by Primary Two.

At the age of eight I got my first chance to go to a Diabetes UK Holiday at Abernethy. This was great because everyone was the same and we learnt a lot about diabetes ( I.E Healthy Eating, the Importance of checking you're bloods and other place's to inject ) Along the way we got to have some Great fun as well.

I have just changed to three jabs a day and it's help me to control my bloods better but it meant I have to come in early to have the one at night, so it's a big pain when I'm out with my friends. I have been on a lot of sleepovers with my friends and when I feel low at night I find it hard to bother them. I don't really want to wake my friends up so I would normal sit down, check my bloods and raid my bag for something to eat if I was low, But if I didn't find anything a would wake them up anyway.

Having diabetes has changed my life since I was very young though I can't remember anything about not having diabetes, it's like saying I've had it all my life. Diabetes hasn't really stopped me from doing anything that I want to do, you just have to deal with it. Living with diabetes has it's up's and down's but one thing for sure

YOU CAN'T LET IT DRAG YOU DOWN !!!