After a diagnosis of a Type 1 juvenile diabetes six weeks ago, life is never the same for three-year-old Shelby Birch of Augusta and her family.

When Shelby began suffering excessive bedwetting, thirst, weight loss and irritability, her mother Amanda Brearley realized something was just wrong.

Ever since her diagnosis, Shelby has returned to her usual happy character and her mother says the improvement has been enormous.

We didn't realize how sick she was, she said.

Shelby now receives daily two insulin injections and has finger-prick testing of her blood.

The genetic markers in the family who have history of diabetes include Ms Brearley's paternal grandmother and partner.

Ms Brearley, her son Braydon Brearley, and Grandmother Margaret Brearley are now involved in Spin to Cure Diabetes in Perth this month to help raise money for juvenile diabetes research.

Shelby is such a brave and beautiful little girl who has inspires us all and taught as to be brave.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that is not caused by diet or lifestyle.

Nearly 140,000 Australian children and adults live with this incurable chronic disease, and every day, five more people are diagnosed with the condition.

An individual affected with Type 1 diabetes depends on daily insulin injections to stay alive, as well as multiple finger-prick to check for sugar level.

Serious health implications such as blindness, heart disease and kidney failure are associated with diabetes.

To support the cause, please donate online at www.jdrf.org.au or at the Augusta Clinic. Donations above $2 are tax deductible.

Medicine