I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1982 at the age of 5. Through my childhood and teenage years I did not really encounter any difficulties with my diabetes. I started work in 1998 working for a small oil distributor carrying out a variety of tasks, both physical and mental. I moved to a new job as a water treatment engineer in June 2003 shortly after my partner had our baby.

Following this happy event I started a new job in Jan 2004 working for another oil company. This company was taken over in July 2004 and I was relocated to another site. I was made redundant from this job in March 2005 after taking sick leave.

Problems started with my health in Jan 2005 when I was taken into hospital suffering from pneumonia. During this period doctors found out my kidney function was slightly impaired. Despite this fact in June 2005 I started a new job as a window tinter for a windscreen company.

In July I attended my first renal appointment at Hope hospital, where it was noticed that my kidney function was rapidly decreasing. I was then given another appointment for 3 months. Around the same time I started to notice that my eye sight was beginning to deteriorate, and after hospital appointment it was decided that I would need laser treatment. This treatment was started in August 2005. My first dose of laser treatment went ok. I did notice a slight improvement in my vision. I was told that I would need some further treatment and was given another appointment for September 2005.

In July 2005 I became aware that my body had started to swell up. I started to find it difficult to move about alot without becoming tired.

In September I went for another dose of laser treatment. After this my vision became very blurry, and as a result I had to give up my job. In October I was admitted into Hope hospital as I was heavily overloaded with fluid due to my deteriorating kidney function. I was given a course of frusamide to try and get rid of some of the excess fluid.This treatment helped to remove some of the fluid, but I was told that I would need some type of dialysis in the near future. I decided that I would go with the option of peritenial dialysis as this could be carried out at home which would be easier due to my poor eye sight.

I started on dialysis in early December 2005. At this point it was decided that I would be placed on the transplant list for a combined kidney and pancreas transplant. In Aug 2007 I was called up for a transplant but it was decided that the donor pancreas was not suitable for transplantation. I was then called up again in Jan 2008, but at the time I was suffering from a chest infection and so was not able to be considered for a transplant.

My life has been completely changed since I became unwell, as it meant that I had to give up working. Also many of my hobbies and interests have been affected. I used to enjoy driving and vehicle maintenance but cannot any longer do this. I also used to do a lot of DIY but this also I cannot do. It has also become difficult to get around as easy as if I try to walk any distance I become tired quickly. It has also proved to be difficult to help to bring up my son.

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