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Katrina Scott
 My name is Katrina Scott. I am 14 years old, live in Farnham in Surrey and go to Tormead School, Guildford where I have just started my GCSE course today!
Becoming diabetic 10 years ago at the age of 4, was a great shock to my family and me. Being energetic and lively I did not want to be weighed down or stopped by this new, lifelong condition. However, I soon found out that although I was diabetic I could still control my diabetes and lead an active life at the same time. I was fortunate that I learnt to inject myself within days of being diagnosed and gradually became confident in handling my diabetes myself, so that gave me much more independence. I have been very lucky in having a supportive family and friends.
Now 10 years on I am involved in many activities. Not only have I swum at county level but I also participate in hockey, tennis, rounders, athletics and netball teams. In 1999 I was given a young sporting achievers award by Diabetes UK. In my free time I like to horseride, bowl, ice-skate and ski and also play football with friends. I am a normal teenager who happens to be diabetic.
It has not always been easy handling my diabetes around my busy schedule. Teenage years have proven to be a challenge to good diabetic control. Each day, therefore, I have to test my blood sugar frequently and inject myself 4 times a day, altering my insulin amounts and food intake depending on activities. Mostly I get it right but sometimes things don't quite go according to plan! School lunchtimes prove to be a challenge, fitting in training, blood testing, injecting and eating in a short space of time.
I learnt a lot about my condition by going on Diabetes UK activity holidays when I was younger. At these camps, away from home, I learnt to handle diabetes participating in lots of activities. It was great fun to be able to do many outdoor things such as rock climbing, canoeing, and absailing with people who were just like me! To my surprise and contrary to my expectation when absailing as my heart-beat faster my blood sugar levels rose as well.
I enjoy leading an active life and when I am older my ambition is to travel the world and to spend time on safari in South Africa and visiting shanty towns or favellas in Sao Paulo, Brazil where there are many poor street children.
Although controlling and handling my diabetes can be hard, I am grateful that my condition has not stopped me from doing any of the things that I want to do. Over the years I have tried to encourage other children when they were diagnosed helping them to overcome their fears.
The polar trek sounds very exiting and I would love one day to do something as adventurous. I hope that the diabetic studies will provide a breakthrough in finding a cure for diabetics like myself. Because as much as I have learnt to live with diabetes I'd be very happy to live without it!
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