Nikki had a difficult childhood and felt different from others. Her experience of psychosis worsened after a traumatic event when she was 14. She now manages her voices well and actively supports others with mental health experiences.

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Katie uses an insulin pump and feels that it has make the management of her diabetes much easier. Katie has good control of her blood sugar levels and feels that hockey training has helped a lot in keeping things stable. Her HbA1c is within normal range although she finds it harder to keep her blood sugars well controlled at night. Roughly, she would test her blood sugars about five times a day and before going to bed. She does not mind doing the finger prick tests and repeating them if her reading are not good or, before doing sports. She would love to have a continuous glucose monitor, but as a student she cannot afford it and her hospital does not have the funding for it.

Sophie is on Lantus and Novorapid and her consultant suggested she goes onto an insulin pump. In the past, Sophie disliked the idea of using an insulin pump, but now she is keen because she knows that people have had great results with it. Sophie's main goal is to live a healthy life' and has made significant improvements to her diet and exercise planning. She also uses a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) that she finances herself. She only recently started using social media and found out that there are lots of young people out there' that like her, are living with type 1 diabetes.

Lewis was diagnosed age four and initially used insulin pens but they were not helping to achieve good control. He started using an insulin pump when he was six years old. He now has good control and feels that since his diagnosis, he has got all the support and help he needs from his Mum and Dad we learn from each other's mistakes and we sort of help each other. He describes it as team work'. The family feels that learning about diabetes management is an ongoing process. Lewis, his family and the diabetes specialists have worked together to help Lewis control his diabetes and provide a safe space where he can talk about feelings and emotions. Lewis wants to become a mentor and help others.

Lydia was diagnosed aged twelve with type 1 diabetes. She initially used insulin pens, but after six months her diabetes clinic offered her an insulin pump. After six months she managed to achieve good control; her HB1C was 6.5. Lydia has always wanted to be fully involved in managing her condition and made a point of doing all her injections and finger pricking and later, learning on how to use and care for her pump. She says that the insulin pump has made the management of her diabetes even easier. But Lydia says you never stops learning' about how to manage diabetes and added I'm still learning'.

Robert was diagnosed in 2015 aged 20 but it didn't come as a shock because his brother and a cousin also have type 1 diabetes. He participated in a Patient Education Programme similar to DAFNE. This course provided important information and advice on how to balance exercises with insulin and carbohydrates for effective management. Robert was also thrilled to learn more about the different types of technologies available to help manage the condition like glucose scans and those that are being planned for the future. Participants to the course set up a Facebook group and continue sharing tips and experiences about their condition. Robert is on Lantus and Novorapid.

Since diagnosis and until she was sixteen years old, she was on a two daily injections of insulin. Until her early teens, she had well-control diabetes, but then it began to slip. She found her insulin regimen oppressive and limiting, so when it was changed to short-acting and long-acting analogue insulin she had a sense of freedom that she had never experienced before in relation to food and mealtimes. The problem was that around the same time she started to be concerned about her weight and decided to go on a diet. That was the start of her eating disorder that was to last for several years. She realised that she needed help and talked to her GP, whom she trusted. Eventually she was able to find a psychologist that worked with her and helped her overcome her eating disorder. Unfortunately, she developed diabetes-related complications which affected her eyesight. She was registered blind at the age of 23. She currently uses an insulin pump and her control is very good. This is a follow-on interview with Sarah. We first interviewed Sarah at the age of 27 (Interview 32).

Linda was diagnosed five years ago at the age of nineteen. She is on two types of insulin Lantus and Novorapid. Lantus is the long-acting or background insulin that she injects once a day. Novorapid is a short acting one that she injects after meals. Before Lantus she used to use Levemir, but it was changed because she developed an intolerance to the preservative in it. Diet and exercise are an important part of her lifestyle. She feels she has learnt a great deal about her condition and how to manage it.

Dr Rehan-Uddin Khan is a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, specialist in Maternal Medicine, and Director of Medical Education at Barts and the Royal London Hospitals, and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Women's Health at Queen Mary University of London; Chair of Women's Health Clinical Board, Barts Health NHS Trust.