A FAMILY has volunteered to join an international study to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

The Linley-Wallbank family, from Blackburn, shared their personal experiences of how the disease has affected them after youngest child, nine-year-old daughter Kerry, was diagnosed a year ago.

According to the NHS, in Type 1 diabetes the pancreas (a small gland behind the stomach) doesn’t produce any insulin.

If the amount of glucose in the blood is too high, it can, over time, seriously damage the body’s organs.

Typical symptoms include feeling very thirsty, passing urine more often than usual, particularly at night, feeling very tired, weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.

Kerry’s mum Marie Linley said: “ Parents already know how to take care of their children and, while coming to terms with diabetes was and remains tough, life goes on.”

Kerry and Marie recently volunteered to join TrialNet, an international study helping researchers learn more about how Type 1 diabetes develops and ways to delay and prevent it.

Marie said: “When I was asked to support the diabetes research study, I wanted to help. If it was your child, you would help too and I believe it also benefits Kerry .”

In addition to daughter Kerry, Marie’s older children Rose, 18, and ten-year-old Kurtis, are taking part in the study, although not sufferers of diabetes. To get involved in the research, Marie said: “I signed consent forms, gave medical information and all the family had blood tests.”

For more information about diabetes and opportunities to join a local research study, visit the site elht.nhs.uk/research.htm