A SECONDARY school student has won a national competition after sharing what diabetes means to her and her family.

Megan Glanister, who is a pupil at Hope Academy, made a video and presentation raising awareness of type 1 diabetes, highlighting what it’s like for her little sister Gracie to live with the condition.

Four-year-old Gracie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in November 2018 when she was just 23 months old.

Megan, who is 12, said: “I was so shocked when I realised I’d won.

“I made the video after our school chaplain encourage me to do something to express what it was like for our family living with diabetes.

“I just wanted to raise awareness and am so pleased I won.”

READ > Mum tweets Ant & Dec to recognise bravery of girls in face of adversity

Type 1 diabetes is a condition which affects the pancreas and it can’t produce enough insulin which is needed to carry glucose around the body.

It’s the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, which starts suddenly and can quickly get worse.

It is treated with daily insulin doses given by injection of via an insulin pump.

Mum Jo, who is 33, said: “It was an incredibly tough time and came as quite a shock.

“We had to rush Gracie to hospital and Megan was at school at the time.

“She was really worried about her little sister.”

She added: “It can be difficult for siblings when a brother or sister gets diagnosed with type 1.

“There’s a whole mix of emotions - they’re worried, try to help and can also feel guilty, which I know Megan did.”

The Diabetes UK competition asked children and young people affected by diabetes to show what the condition meant to them and winners have been announced as part of diabetes awareness week which runs until Sunday, June 20.

Megan’s entry not only explained what type 1 diabetes is and how it affects her family but she also interviewed staff at her school about how they support pupils living with the condition.

Megan, from Newton-le-Willows, said: “I felt bad about eating certain things in front of Gracie as I though she couldn’t have them because of her diabetes.

“I know now that Gracie can eat everything that I do, it’s just that she has to take insulin to manage her sugar levels.”

Clare Howarth, head of the north of England at Diabetes UK, said: “We’d like to say a huge congratulations to Megan on her winning entry.

“It was wonderful to see the effort and care she has taken to share her experiences and awareness of diabetes.

“Living with diabetes can feel relentless for families.

“It’s so important that we raise awareness of what it’s like to live with diabetes so that other people affected by the condition will know that they are not on their own.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Megan and her family for sharing their experiences and helping us create a world where diabetes can do no harm.”

For more information about diabetes visit www.diabetes.org.uk