A RETIRED teacher who has Type 1 diabetes is backing the launch of a new campaign and free book.

Sue Briggs, who taught maths at The Castle and the former Ladymead School, both in Taunton, is plugging ‘100 things I wish I’d known about diabetes’.

The book, published by Diabetes UK, is full of everyday advice offered by people living with diabetes for other people who have the condition and their partners, family and friends.

Sue, who is now 61, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 53.

She volunteers for Diabetes UK and speaks in schools to help improve care.

Speaking of her diagnosis, she said: "It was a bit like learning to drive, it seemed very complicated at first, now just part of my life."

Sue provided the following tip on school and college area and this is one of 100 tips featured in the book: "Remember that you should be entitled to rest breaks in an exam to deal with a hypo. Use them if necessary and don’t rush to start again – give yourself all the time you need to recover properly."

With new figures released by the charity showing that 700 people a day are diagnosed with diabetes in the UK - that’s one person every two minutes - the charity says that people often say their diabetes diagnosis leaves them isolated and with unanswered questions.

To help people get a better understanding of their condition and some key things about it, the charity has enlisted the support of Sue and others with experience of diabetes to share advice across every aspect of life with the condition, from going on holiday and eating out, working out and managing diabetes alongside work, relationships and more.

Sue said: “It's really important that schools recognise that children with Type 1 should be included in all aspects of education and understand when they need a bit more support. ”

Claire Gordon, Diabetes UK Regional Manager South West, said: “We are really grateful to Sue for drawing on her own experience of living with diabetes to share advice with others who are affected by the condition in our new book.

“Every two minutes someone is diagnosed with diabetes and people often tell us they are left in despair and feel like they have no-one to turn to.

"But that doesn’t need to be the case.

"People with diabetes are the real experts in living with the condition and this is why we have published this book, bringing together pieces of advice from people with the condition across every part of life with diabetes.

"Having this book is like having a best friend in the room who knows exactly what you are going through and who can offer tried and tested advice.

"Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, if you’ve just been diagnosed or you’ve had diabetes for many years, this book offers invaluable support and insight.”

All tips submitted were reviewed by the charity’s clinical team and the final 100 tips included in the book were chosen by a panel of people with diabetes.

The book also contains tips from Diabetes UK celebrity supporters including actor Jonny Labey, rugby player Chris Pennell and Sky News’s Stephen Dixon, who all have Type 1 diabetes.

TV presenter Philip Schofield, whose mother and brother both have Type 1 diabetes, and The Hairy Bikers’ Si King, whose wife and son both have the condition, also contributed to the book.

Jonny Labey said: “No-one should feel alone with their diabetes.

"Managing diabetes can be a challenge but it doesn’t have to stop anyone from achieving their goals.

"The great thing about this book is it shows how we can all support each other and this is not something we have to face all by ourselves.

"That’s why I’m so glad to have contributed to the book. I’d advise anyone with diabetes – whatever type they have – to get hold of a copy now.”

To order a free copy of the book, call Diabetes UK on 0800-0355626 or visit www.diabetes.org.uk/100things