Katie

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means the body’s own immune system has attacked the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The pancreas can no longer produce insulin when this occurs. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.

In the weeks leading up to Katie’s diagnosis, her mum Julia had noticed she had been hungrier and thirstier than usual, and had been waking up at night to go to the toilet more often – all common symptoms of diabetes. At first Katie had to prick her finger up to 10 times a day to check her blood sugar levels, and needed seven insulin injections a day to manage her condition. She now has an insulin pump (which delivers doses of insulin directly into the body) and although she still has to do regular finger prick tests every day, she only needs one injection in her tummy every few days when the pump is refilled. Katie also has check-ups with the endocrinology team at the Queensland Children’s Hospital four times a year to make sure she is managing her condition OK.

Katie said: “I’m the only kid in my school with Type 1 diabetes and my classmates often watch me do a finger prick test. I like to tell people about Type 1 diabetes so more people know about it and what causes it, because kids often ask if I got diabetes because I ate too many lollies!”

Diabetes affects about 1.7million people nationally. To find out more and check your risk visit www.diabetesaustralia.com.au