I woke up in hospital after weekend away with no idea how I got there

Three Lucozade originals, one Capri-sun, a SunnyD, and a trio of boost cans. That is how much I managed to drink on a three-hour road trip, and yet my thirst was no further quenched than from the moment I buckled my seatbelt

I was in my early teens and heading down south to Dublin to watch Ireland’s rugby team. I can’t remember for sure, but if I had to place money on it, the Wolfhounds were going head-to-head with the best players Scotland had to offer.

When I get to this part of the story, your guess is as good as mine as what happened next. Ireland could have scored the best try and conversion ever seen, and I would have known no different.

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I have little recollection of this day between violently throwing up. However, I do remember being offered chocolate by the family in front of me. Supposedly, chocolate helps with sickness - a theory I’m still not too sure of to this day.

From nibbling on a Cadbury chocolate bar to waking up 158 miles away in the north of the country days later, it is fair to say that rugby game ticket money went to waste.

Back closer to home, I woke up in my local hospital with no idea of how I got there. I was quickly told by doctors it was clear I had type 1 diabetes.

Today is World Diabetes Day. Held annually on November 14, the day highlights the importance of being diagnosed early, as “it can save lives, prevent a media emergency, and reduce the risk of life-changing complications later.”

This year's theme, chosen by Diabetes UK, looks at how access to diabetes care empowers better health for all. Over the next 12 months, the emphasis is being placed on improving global access to educational resources and healthcare solutions, especially in regions facing disparities in medical support.

The date commemorates the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, co-discovered insulin in 1922. This medical breakthrough has since transformed the lives of millions, including myself, who have diabetes.

This World Diabetes Day, the charity is asking the public to help them “stop diabetes forever,” and one way to do this is by knowing the signs and symptoms of the condition. In light of this, I am sharing what signs and symptoms I experienced for roughly a year prior to my diagnosis - including my constant need for fluids.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on Valentine's Day - an easy date to remember. However, before this, I went through the majority, if not all, of the major warning signs of diabetes. The three I remember the most were weight loss, fatigue and an uncontrollable thirst, which subsequently led to an uncontrollable bladder.

At the time, my change in weight wasn’t something I or anyone else noticed straight off the bat. Growing up, I was on the chubbier side, and so it was assumed that weight loss was part and parcel of getting older and going through puberty.

However, the first red flag was being unable to eat or keep down any amount of food. After eating no more than six or seven tablespoons of my dinner, I would be full, and even the smell of any more food would instantly put me in a bad mood.

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My relationship with food was in stark contrast to my relationship with liquid drinks. We were inseparable for the best of eight months—like two peas in a pod. I would constantly have a drink in my hand, and without realising it, my go-to choice of Lucozade was actually making things 10 times worse.

With my diet consisting of nothing but basically liquid, it was hardly surprising I was tired and grumpy for the majority of the day. Wanting to sleep all the time but having that sleep broken by waking up to either get another drink or go to the toilet was a vicious circle where there were no winners.

With diabetes, no individual is the same, and you may experience others, which I didn’t. These include genital itching or thrush, cuts and wounds taking longer to heal, blurred eyesight and increased hunger.

A decade on, and although there are still daily struggles, I’ve managed to keep my diabetes under control. More so in the last year or so with the help of my Freestyle Libre —an Iron-Man-esque sensor.

Placed on the back of my left arm, the sensor gets replaced every two weeks, but between those times, thanks to Bluetooth, I can get my blood sugar readings straight to my phone.