A TEACHING assistant hopes to challenge misconceptions faced by people living with diabetes after her sister was diagnosed with the lifelong condition.

Helen Waring, aged 27, said her younger sister Marie faced "prejudice" following a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes when she was 18 years old.

Marie, now aged 24, lost a significant amount of weight and had been unwell but the family initially put her symptoms down to the stress of starting university.

Ms Waring, a teaching assistant at St Mary’s RC Primary School in Radcliffe, said: "We thought Marie had freshers' flu and her weight loss was related to that.

"It was only after she had told mum that she had woken up in the night and drank six cans of Lilt that we realised something was wrong.

"Since Marie was diagnosed, she has had some bad experiences and has often felt judged because of her condition.

"Diabetes is serious and not enough people are aware of what it means for people who live with it every day.

"When my little sister was diagnosed, I had no idea what this meant at the time. I didn’t realise that this meant her life was about to change forever.

"She is now insulin-dependent and needs to inject herself everyday whenever she eats anything."

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly.

Type 1 diabetes is treated with daily insulin doses - taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. The symptoms include increased thirst, tiredness and weight loss.

Ms Waring, from Bury, has signed up to take on the Great Manchester Run on May 20 for Diabetes UK to help raise awareness and to challenge the misconceptions surrounding the condition.

The kind-hearted sister has been training hard to prepare for what will be her first ever 10k run and is also set to hold a summer fair at her home to raise funds for the charity.

She said: "Marie has been so brave and strong since her diagnosis and I am so incredibly proud of her and the changes she's had to make to her life.

"I’m very protective of Marie, and have witnessed some of the prejudice she has faced as a result of her condition.

"This has inspired me to raise awareness and challenge some of the myths associated with diabetes."

An estimated 4.5 million people are living with diabetes in the UK. Both Type 1 and Type 2, if not managed correctly, can lead to complications such as lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.

Fiona Menzies, Diabetes UK fundraising manager, said: "We’re really grateful to Helen for taking on this challenge for us.

"The money raised will help fund groundbreaking research, care services and campaigns to change the lives of people with diabetes and their families."

A Just Giving page has already raised £600 for the cause.

To sponsor Ms Waring visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/helen-waring1990.