Marcus Jones MP met young Mille Hainge at Westminster on 11 March to discuss the impact of type 1 diabetes on people’s lives at a major Houses of Parliament event.

Millie was chosen to attend Type 1 Parliament by JDRF – the global type 1 diabetes charity. She was one of sixty adults and children who live with the condition that was selected from across the country to represent their constituencies. The event was sponsored by Lilly.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic and challenging condition. The exact cause is unclear, but it is not linked to lifestyle or diet.  A child diagnosed with it at the age of five faces up to 19,000 insulin injections and 50,000 finger prick tests by the time they are 18.  The condition affects 400,000 people in the UK – equivalent to more than 600 people in every constituency – and incidence is growing rapidly, particularly in those under five years old.

Commenting, Marcus said: “Type 1 Parliament has highlighted the true impact of type 1 diabetes upon those that live with it, their families, and the country as a whole. On behalf of those living with the condition in Nuneaton, I will be contacting the Science Minister David Willetts to ask how research into this condition can be better supported.”

Karen Addington, Chief Executive of JDRF, said: “Thank you to everyone who attended the event and made it such a resounding success. The incidence of type 1 diabetes is going up and so is the cost – but UK Government spending on type 1 diabetes research is falling.  Thankfully, more people are now uniting on this issue and we can be hopeful of achieving significant change.”