THE family of a girl with type 1 diabetes has shared the pioneering technology that they hope will transform her life and that of others with the condition.

Lucy White, 10, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was just four after her parents noticed her losing weight and experiencing mood swings.

The lesser known form of diabetes affects 29,000 children in the UK.

Her father Robin White, said: “We went to the doctor and was sent straight away to the hospital. Had we not she could have fallen into a diabetic coma. There is more coverage about type 2 diabetes but for type 1 we are still unsure what triggers it.”

Doctors believe a virus Lucy contracted while suffering from tonsillitis caused her pancreas, which generates insulin, to start shutting down and led to the diabetes diagnosis.

Her life changed overnight as the family, who live in Maurice Way, Marlborough, began checking her blood sugar levels 15 times a day.

Theresa May, Halle Berry and pop star Nick Jonas all have type one diabetes.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation researches into the autoimmune disease and through their pioneering research, Lucy now uses a device which monitors sugar levels through her skin. The Freestyle Libre reduces Lucy’s need to prick her finger by 90 per cent and has given the St Francis schoolgirl her independence back.

Mr White, a sales and marketing director, said: “She has lost some feeling in her fingers because of taking blood readings.

“Now she can scan her own finger and decide herself what to do. For children this can be quite transformational.We tell her that diabetes will not stop her from achieving anything.”

Further technology includes a pump system that injects insulin directly into the pancreas called an Omnipod. Mr White hopes future devices will measure and medicate people independently, creating a working artificial pancreas. St Francis School recently raised £1048 for JDRF at a Christmas Fair.

Ally Colton, JDRF's local regional fundraiser said: “JDRF is grateful for the fantastic support of Lucy and her family. The Christmas Fair at St Francis School was a wonderful way of supporting this vital cause.

"The funds raised will help support JDRF in our mission to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes and support the 400,000 people in the UK living with the condition, and their loved ones.

“Lucy and her family are inspirational and we cannot thank them enough for their support”.