My name is Roxie, I am a type 1 diabetic, am married with two sons David 17 and Eddie 11, he too has type 1 hence the reason I am so passionate about raising awareness of type 1 diabetes, especially in children, which is frighteningly on the increase. Every year 13,000 children are diagnosed with type 1.

Diabetes is a relentless disease and can lead to life threatening complications if not managed correctly. Living every day with a chronic disease (just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening), presents many hurdles and challenges, but with plenty of knowledge and understanding the condition can feasibly be maintained.

What has surprised me along the way is other people’s ignorance and misconceptions of diabetes and my plan is to educate others so this doesn’t continue. We have personally been lucky with our health care and school but this is not the case for everyone.

In some parts of the country children have been discriminated against because of their diabetes and have been excluded from nurseries and schools. In my mind this is despicable in this day and age.

My son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 2. He did not get it because he was fat, or had eaten too many cakes and sweets. A proper healthy diet won't get rid of it, he won't grow out of it, and exercise won't end it.

Fact: He doesn't produce any insulin so he has to have it administered several times a day, every day, every week, and every year for the rest of his life, by means of an insulin pen.

Yes he can eat sugary things if he so wishes, he just has the relevant amount of insulin needed (though I don't encourage it), he is after all a child that still wants treats.

My son is a trooper, he copes, he is brave, and he gets on with it. He injects without a care in the world, it's other people that turn their noses up!!

I want people to be educated about this disease; it is suffering enough without the addition of other people’s ignorance and misconceptions. If I had a pound for the comment ‘You don’t look like you have diabetes, you’re not fat’!!

Life is for living and Eddie certainly enjoys it, nothing hampers him. He plays football; he swims, plays tennis, has been rock climbing, trampolining and has just started boxing!! He can do whatever he wants because he wants to. I always say Eddie has diabetes, diabetes does not have Eddie.

I will endeavour to pull out all the stops to raise awareness for everyone that suffers from this silent disease, and propose on a weekly basis, to give relevant information on various topics that will benefit people and children with type 1 but will educate others that wish to learn.