Welsh woman walks one million steps for charity to highlight risks of DKA

A family from Wales has walked a total of four million steps for charity to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes.
Laura Carter, 29, was admitted to hospital for three months in 2008 where she was eventually diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She had been experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous-short term complication charactiersed by very high blood glucose levels and symptoms such as increased thirst and blurred vision.
Earlier this year Laura again became unwell with DKA. Once she had recovered, she decided to sign up to the 1 Million Steps challenge.
To show their support, her partner Hannah O’Connor, parents Jenny and David, and sister Sarah all signed up too and between them all they have clocked up four million steps in total.
So far the family have raised £240 for Diabetes UK Cymru, but Laura said the walking challenge meant a lot more to her.
Speaking to the online news publication Wales247, she said: “I was lucky that my partner Hannah knew the symptoms to look out for when I became seriously ill. She knew exactly what to tell the paramedics and there was no delay in getting me to hospital. This may not be the case for others as many people do not know what DKA is or how serious it can be.
“My family were instrumental in my recovery, and together we wanted to raise awareness of diabetes and the signs of DKA so hopefully more people won’t have to go through what I did.”
Laura is now on the path to recovery and found doing the challenge helped to rebuild her strength following her hospital stay.
She added: “The challenge came at a perfect time for me. Walking 10,000 steps a day for some people might be easy but for me this was my equivalent of climbing Everest. As the days and months have gone on I have become stronger and been able to walk further, faster and for longer.”
Joseph Cuff, Fundraising Manager, Diabetes UK Cymru, said: “We’re so grateful to Laura and her family for taking up the 1 Million Steps challenge, raising awareness vital funds to help other people living with diabetes in Wales, and their families.”
You can sponsor Laura and her family here.