My name is Mairead and I am 7 years old. I was diagnosed with type one diabetes over 3 years ago. Taking my blood glucose levels 5-10 times a day, doing shots 4-8 times a day, sleepless nights, needles, lifesaving fast acting carbohydrates, math equations and praying it all worked out, was our new norm. The hardest thing was when my Mom sat me down to tell me that she was not trying to hurt me with all the finger pokes and syringe injections, but she was trying to keep me alive.

I am an amazing, smart and talented young lady. I was doing my own blood glucose level checks a month and a half after diagnosis and my own syringe injections 7 months after diagnosis. I am not only a Youth Ambassador for the JDRF who has spoken with politicians, businesses and piers about my disease and struggles, but I'm a champion Irish Dancer who competes all over our region. My main goal in life is to be an endocrinology nurse someday so I can help children just like myself.