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Unfortunately, insulin pumps are not generally available on the National Health Service - but some health authorities do provide them in exceptional circumstances providing a patient's consultant has recommended pump treatment.

Getting NHS funding is a postcode lottery as I found out when I tried. I was refused funding point blank at first but Eastleigh and Test Valley South Primary Care Trust had a change of heart and agreed to pay for the consumables - providing I bought a pump.

There was no way that I could afford to do this but, fortunately for me, my family and the community-spirited people of Mottisfont and Dunbridge and neighbouring Hampshire villages, led by Joyce Southwell and Gordon Wood - came to my rescue and raised the £2,100 to pay for the pump.

Amazingly the fund-raisers did it within five days and I am deeply touched by their support and will always be grateful to them.

BBC Radio Solent also played a hand in my fight for funding and the Southampton-based radio station is currently championing diabetic causes.

I am one of fewer than 2,000 diabetics across Britain using an insulin pump.

Before going on to the pump in mid-July, I had terrible problems trying to control my diabetes and had no choice but to inject four doses of insulin a day to keep myself alive.

However, unfortunately for me the injections failed to control my diabetes properly, putting me at risk from developing other health problems associated with diabetes.

Last year, diabetes stopped me from working for nearly four months and even after returning to work in January it was hard going and problems continued throughout this summer.

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