'Peer led support for Diabetes through the use of social media'
Background
At the age of 4 I was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes, which was a huge shock and change for my family. At diagnosis my family were reassured that type 1 would not stop me doing anything as I grew up and that a cure was to be found in the next 10 years. Type 1 was to not be a big deal, it was two injections a day and with a strict diet could be managed well., however that was over 20 years ago. As I moved into high school the treatment for type 1 changed were a strict diet was less important but meant many more blood tests and injections. As I was in a much bigger school, seeing several teachers a day, I failed to tell anyone I had type 1 as I did not feel it was important for them to know, I could handle it by myself. I stopped doing my blood tests and injections in school to hide it and my diabetes control steadily deteriorated. I was determined it would not dictate my life or stop me doing anything and therefore ignoring it seemed the easiest option. During my studies at university I began to experience the complications of my poor control with damage to my eyes, kidneys and developing necrobiosis on my legs.
Turning point
My interest in psychology had started while I had taken part with a study, through my clinic, with a psychologist. I had stayed in contact with her through my degree in psychology and she invited me to the Scottish Parliament where the psychological aspects of Diabetes were being discussed at a round table meeting. During this meeting I met a couple of young people who also had type 1. We were able to discuss our Diabetes from the struggles growing up, our fears about complications and the different treatments we were all using. I began to realise I was not alone and that struggling with type 1 was a very widely experienced problem. None of us had really met anyone else with type 1 and had certainly not been able to talk so freely about Diabetes and be understood. This inspired me to see that others with type 1 lived fairly normal lives whilst having great control of their Diabetes. It was possible to do with some hard work and with the support of others who were in the same position and understood. I had had a great team in clinic and family who had tried to turn my Diabetes care around yet meeting others had a profound impact.
TayTeens
As a young person I spent a lot of my time using social media to find out information, keep in contact with friends and share my thoughts and opinions. I saw the opportunity to use this to engage with and support other young people with type 1. I set up a closed Facebook group for young people with type 1 in my local area called TayTeens so that they did not need to feel alone anymore. I wanted to give them a safe space to discuss their Diabetes and not fear being judge, even if they did not have the confidence to do this in person. On the page I will post up information about current research, new technology and provide the opportunity to share stories about having type 1. The group is heavily support by the clinic, which has had 3 young people re-engage with NHS services due to the support from the group. I have had the opportunity to discuss the group at the Scottish Parliament with the key policy makers for Diabetes and is to be used as an example of how the NHS can re-engage with young people.