A YOUNG girl who has seen her life transformed by the pioneering work of a national charity travelled to London to raise awareness about type one diabetes. 

Jessie Lancaster, from Millom, was just five years old when she was diagnosed with type one diabetes and saw her young life turned upside down by having to inject herself with insulin four times a day. 

However, thanks to the progressive work carried out by national charity JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Jessie's life took a sudden turn for the better as new research enabled her to have access to the latest technology to make life that little bit easier.

Jessie's mum, Michelle Lancaster, said: "It's made a lot of things easier. It means she can eat when she wants or she doesn't have to eat if she doesn't want to.

"It's made school a lot easier - especially for things like PE. Before she would always have to eat before she did exercise and making a five-year-old eat when she doesn't want to can be difficult."

A few years ago, Jessie, now 10-years-old, was given a special insulin pump that she now wears 24 hours a day. 

This pump injects just the right amount of insulin into Jessie's body at regular intervals and can provide extra boosts when needed. 

Although these pumps have been around for several years, research into type one diabetes is getting far more advanced, promising a problem-free life for young people just like Jessie. 

Mrs Lancaster said: "Jessie is getting a new pump in October which will be a step nearer to an artificial pancreas, which can almost eliminate hypos. It will read sugar levels and inject the right amount of insulin automatically - she won't have to think about it."

As a way of saying thank you, Jessie and her mum made a trip to the Houses of Parliament earlier this month to take part in a huge event hosted by Copeland MP, Jamie Reed, who also suffers from the condition alongside his son and his niece.

The event, called #Type1Catalyst, saw 100 children with type one diabetes coming together with their MPs to raise awareness about the condition and the amazing work being carried out to reduce the impact it has on young people. 

With an estimated six children in Millom with type one diabetes, the condition affects thousands of people of all ages the world over and Mrs Lancaster believes it's important to help support the charity's work. 

She said: "It just makes you want to do something to raise this money because it makes people aware of this condition. 

"People don't realise how it affects your daily life or what can happen if you don't take care of yourself."

She continued: "I want to say a big thank you to the charity and the work it does. 

"You place so much trust in this piece of technology but you have to trust it because it's live-saving."

Read more:

Copeland MP Jamie Reed speaks of life with type one diabetes as he launches fundraising campaign

Woman launches diabetes support group after discovering alarming figures

Cumbrian MP shows support for diabetes charity