Seventeen years ago, Brit Mattie Hansing and her family were living in Dubai when her mum decided to take her to A&E for a quick check-up instead of school. The nine year old had been acting a "little off" for a while, losing weight and frequently needing the loo during the night, even without drinking water.

What was supposed to be a simple check-upturned into a 10-day hospital stay and a life-altering diagnosis of type one diabetesafter just one urine test. Mattie said: "In many ways, I consider myself one of the fortunate ones... I was diagnosed before my organs began to shut down, which is sadly a common scenario for many individuals with late-detected type 1.

"Type 1 diabetes can be extremely difficult to detect in children, especially in places like Dubai where symptoms can easily be overlooked. My mum began to notice that I was drinking huge amounts of water, but living in a hot climate and playing a lot of sport, it didn't seem too unusual.

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"It really came down to my mum's intuition - I'll never call her a hypochondriac again! She trusted her gut, and that made all the difference."

Mattie shared her story to raise awareness for the condition on World Diabetes Day today, Friday, November 14. She implored parents to always "listen to that instinct" if they sense something isn't right with their child. She added: "No one knows a child better than their parents."

After learning that her diabetes had no genetic links, doctors informed Mattie that a virus likely triggered her condition by shutting down her immune system. At the time, it seemed like nothing more than "anything more than the common cold that everyone in my class had", she said.

As she grappled with her new lifestyle, manually managing her insulin and monitoring her blood glucose levels, Mattie encountered a societal stigma she hadn't previously experienced.

She revealed: "The biggest challenge people with diabetes often face is not the condition itself, but rather the attitudes of others and their own perceptions of it. When I was younger, I would hide the fact that I was diabetic because I just wanted to feel 'normal' and fit in with everyone else.

"For many years, I was reluctant to wear any kind of glucose monitor, purely because I didn't want something on my body that would set me apart from non-diabetics. It wasn't until I returned to Dubai and reconnected with the physician who had originally diagnosed me that I began wearing my Freestyle Libre - and now I wear it proudly.

"Since then, I've never seen having type 1 as something that defines me. There are so many other conditions that are far, far worse - if anything, we should wake up everyday grateful that we're one of the lucky ones. Carpe diem. ".

Mattie now proudly sports her medical bracelet everywhere she goes, not only to ensure she's taken care of in emergencies but also to raise awareness about diabetes. Despite her condition, the 26 year old hasn't let it dampen her adventurous spirit, having lived between London and Dubai and travelled to numerous countries from Japan and Botswana to Canada.

She said: "I've always been an expat, born in Bahrain and having lived in Switzerland and Saudi Arabia before moving to Dubai, where I was diagnosed. Experiencing so many different cultures and places has always been a big part of my life.

"Having type 1 does require a bit more planning when it comes to travel, but it's absolutely not a barrier. I make sure I always have sufficient medication with me and to adjust my doses of long-acting insulin when crossing timezones.

"Travelling with diabetes is not complex at all. I have never been treated any differently to anyone else in an airport. Security can sometimes be an issue, drug swabbing for example, but with more awareness and better scanning technology, I'm very rarely stopped or questioned to check what medication I'm travelling with, even in Africa."

Mattie encouraged diabetics to treat medical insurance as a priority when planning trips abroad. Whilst pre-existing conditions might carry a higher cost, specialist firms such as Staysure say they offer bespoke assistance for those with health conditions.

The firm says this encompasses vital emergency support including replacing misplaced medication. Mattie continued: "One piece of advice: always travel with your medication in hand luggage, as luggage may get lost and you don't want to be caught short."

Dr Asimah, a GP collaborating with the insurer, also suggested diabetics utilise cooling bags that don't freeze alongside hotel refrigerators to maintain their insulin at proper temperatures during travel. The atmospheric pressure variations on aircraft can also generate air bubbles in insulin pens and pumps, making it essential to inspect these before administering your doses.

Diabetes identification cards are also obtainable from Diabetes.co.uk. These aim to provide all the essential information people require should they fall unwell whilst overseas.