Leamington diabetes patient is hoping to spread the word

Peter Wilkins, aged 24, who lives in Leamington, was diagnosed with type one diabetes three years ago, just two months after his younger sister Florence, then aged 11, was also diagnosed with the condition.

He said: “Since my diagnosis I’ve managed to control my diabetes well and both my sister and I are on insulin pumps.

“Ensuring people have the right advice and information is the key to living well with diabetes as a lot of it is about managing the condition yourself and getting diet, exercise and daily routines right for your body really helps.

“In some ways I was lucky, as when both my sister and I were diagnosed we had help and advice on hand at home as both my parents are doctors.

“But one of the problems a lot of people face is getting the right advice to understand their diagnosis and learn how to live well with the condition.

“That is where Diabetes UK helps and I wanted to raise money for the charity by running in the Bath Half Marathon.”

The systems engineer on the Jaguar Landrover graduate trainee scheme said: “I’ve always enjoyed sport but haven’t run much since I completed a half marathon seven years ago.

“I thought running was a good way to stay fit now that I’m working full-time as I can slot my training schedule in to suit my working day.”

Peter added: “Diabetes UK helps people manage their diabetes effectively by providing information, advice and support. It campaigns to improve the quality of care across the UK’s health services, funds pioneering research into care, cure and prevention of all types of diabetes and campaigns to stem the rising tide of the 
condition.”

To sponsor Peter’s run on March 2 go to www.justgiving.com/peter-wilkins