UK teen diabetes ambassador to lobby US congress

A 13-year-old girl with type 1 diabetes is heading to the United States of America to meet with Congress to share her experiences of living with the condition.

Millie Hainge, who was diagnosed when she was nine, is making the trip as an ambassador for type 1 charity JDRF.

Millie, who is from Leicestershire, said: “I am really excited to be visiting Congress. It is a wonderful opportunity to share my story and represent the many thousands of people from all around the world that live with this condition.

“Type 1 diabetics are all living on life support, we are all dependent on insulin; it is a disease that doesn’t recognise age, colour or geography and so why not take my message to one of the world’s super powers? It doesn’t matter who finds a cure, just that one is found.”

During her visit to Washington, the schoolgirl will also meet with the British ambassador Sir Peter Westmacott and attend the JDRF Children’s Congress.

Millie is no stranger to campaigning on behalf of people of diabetes. Just before the general election in May, she wrote her own manifesto requesting the support of MPs and more awareness for the condition.

In March last year she visited the Houses of Parliament to lobby MPs for a fairer future for people with type 1.