NEWS
Downing Street recognition
Prime Minister Theresa May delivered the following speech at a
Downing Street reception for diabetes charities and the NHS held
on 24 June 2019.
"
Welcome everyone. As Prime
Minister - I host a great many
receptions here at Downing Street,
but of course today, this time, it's
particularly personal. So it really
does give me great pleasure to see you
all here - and for me to be able to say a
wholehearted thank you for everything
you do to support and help people with
diabetes.
"I also particularly want to mention the
children we have here with us - and who
I know have achieved some extraordinary
things - in sport, in raising awareness,
and through their invaluable contribution
to our understanding about how we can
better help and treat people with diabetes.
You show tremendous courage, every
day, in the things that you do. You don't
let diabetes hold you back. You show
what is possible. And you are a source of
great inspiration.
"I will never forget the shock I felt when
I was first told I was diabetic. I imagine it
must be the same for many people. It was
not something I ever expected. And to be
honest, I didn't know you could get Type
1 diabetes at my age. But I will be forever
grateful to all those who taught me how
to manage my condition - and reduce the
impact it has on my life. People like those
of you here in this room today.
"The one thing I told myself when I
found out - was that I was not going to
let diabetes stop me from getting on with
my life, and getting on with my job. But it
is only thanks to the advice and support
I received that I have been able to keep
that promise to myself - the help from
my GP, the consultants - but also most
memorably the clinical nurse specialists
from my local hospital.
Challenging times
"Today we know that the rate of diabetes
is rising dramatically - with 3 million
people in England registered as living with
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes with a GP -
although the true number is likely to be
higher with up to a million more people
yet to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
And behind those statistics - as everyone
here is well aware - are the devastating
consequences for people's health -
people of all ages, young and old. So this
really is one of the great health challenges
of our time.
"I am very pleased that we have
here people who are leading the charge
in the way that we deal with diabetes. I
know only too well the difference simple
advances can make - because, as some
of you may know, I wear a FreeStyle
Libre - which makes all the difference to
me in being able to monitor my glucose
levels. And we are taking great strides
forward in other areas. From the apps
that help people monitor their condition
to Continuous Glucose Monitoring for all
pregnant Type 1 diabetics, which will be
available on the NHS by 2020/21, to the
doubling of funds for the NHS's Type 2
diabetes prevention programme through
the Long-Term Plan for the NHS.
"But for today, this really is a chance
for me to say a very personal thank you to
those of you working to raise awareness
and funding for research and those
working on innovations, treatments and
exploring possible cures, as well as those
of you who care for people living with
diabetes and provide the support so that
they can live the best possible lives.
"I will end with a quote by fellow Type
1 diabtic and Olympic Gold medal winner
Steve Redgrave, whose advice I took
to heart when I was first diagnosed. It's
one I've quoted before - but it's a good
one - so I think it bears repeating. He
said, "Diabetes must learn to live with
me rather than me live with diabetes."
It's a sentiment I have always found gave
me incredible inspiration. And I hope it
provides inspiration for the many who are
determined not to let diabetes get in the
way of living their lives to the fullest."