An “inspirational” little boy from Powys who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 22 months old is on a mission to raise as much awareness about the lifelong condition by setting up a fundraising appeal.
Mason, who’s eight and lives in Llanidloes, is calling on people to support his fundraiser by donating cash in his bucket for the Diabetes UK charity which helps children and young people like him build confidence and manage the serious condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.
Mason’s mum Amy said: “He was the first to have it in our family. We didn't know anything about type 1. He was very poorly. We nearly lost him but luckily, he came back fighting.
“He loves talking to people about his diabetes and telling people about his pump. He is so brave.
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"Everything he has gone through, and he still has a smile on his face. I cannot be more prouder of him.”
Amy added: “Mason needs to have a blood sugar reading before he has breakfast, dinner and tea or when he feels hypo. He needs insulin for every time he eats. He is on a pump which is a cannula that goes into his skin, and we enter the carbohydrates into his pump and his pump will give him his insulin.
“He is also on a sensor which is inserted on the back of his arm every seven days and his sensor talks to his pump and when Mason’s blood sugars go above normal range, his pump will automatically give him insulin, to keep his blood sugars stable.
“He has had Type 1 diabetes since he was 22 months old. Mason has hypos, which means when his blood sugar level is below four. We need to sit him down and give him two jelly babies and wait 10 minutes then we check his blood sugar to make sure he is back at a normal range. If his blood sugar hasn't gone back up, we need to repeat the jelly babies. When Mason is hypo he cannot walk as his legs are very wobbly.”
Mason has roped in help from local award-winning businesswoman Trudy Davies, owner of Woosnam & Davies News, who has a special collection bucket inside the store for any donations for Diabetes UK.
She said: “We will gladly help Mason and his family through our shop to raise much needed funds and awareness for such a good cause.
“I also have family members who have Type 1 diabetes so know it is a lifelong illness and I know the daily struggles this illness gives sufferers and their family.
“I am so happy and fully committed to give any support to this inspiration young lad.”
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