A YORK mum whose son became seriously ill due to diabetes will be running in her first marathon this weekend.

Cerys Harvey, 40, of Rawcliffe, is taking on the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon in York in aid of Diabetes UK.

She chose the charity to help raise funds and awareness of Type 1 diabetes after her five-year-old son Dylan became very ill and was diagnosed with the condition when he was taken to hospital.

Cerys said Dylan had developed an incredible thirst and had not been well for a month. "My husband Paul looked up his symptoms on the internet and convinced himself that it was diabetes.

"We visited the doctors on a few occasions and on January 24, we both got very upset and the doctor sent us to York Hospital. Within 30 minutes he had vomited and was admitted with lethargy, polyuria, polydipsia and the doctor's diagnosis was 'Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus'. The doctors and nurses were all fantastic and acted promptly to the situation."

She said Dylan now has four injections of insulin a day and his blood sugar is regularly monitored to bring his condition under control.

However, Cerys said she feels diabetes Type 1 - which occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce any insulin - can be forgotten due to the rise of Type 2 diabetes - which occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin to function properly, or the body’s cells don't react to insulin - which can often be related to lifestyle.

She said people should be aware of the four Ts of Type 1 symptoms; going to the toilet a lot, being extremely thirsty, tired and looking thinner.

Cerys had originally entered the Yorkshire Marathon to raise funds for Cancer Research as her father-in-law Stanley Harvey passed away earlier this year after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Her husband's cousin Phil Harvey is now running in Stanley's memory for St Leonards Hospice.

To sponsor Cerys,visit www.justgiving.com/CerysHarvey and to sponsor Phil, go to www.justgiving.com/Phil-Harvey3


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