A teenager whose undiagnosed diabetes left her just hours from dying is raising awareness about the disease.

As part of World Diabetes Day on Wednesday Ellie Wallace spent an entire school day in silence and sold wristbands to raise money for Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.

After weeks of being under the weather the 13-year-old from Peacehaven was rushed to hospital in August 2011.

After a week in hospital Ellie, who was also diagnosed as being gluten intolerant, now has to inject herself up to seven times a day and assesses her blood sugar levels with a finger prick test up to ten times a day.

Her family are promoting the four T’s – tiredness, thirst, thin and toilet – which are symptoms of the disease.

Mum Debbie Goulding said: “Once parents know the symptoms to look out for hopefully we can prevent kids’ conditions becoming life threatening like Ellie’s was.”

Ellie’s efforts and a dress down day at Mrs Goulding’s work have so far raised £800 to go towards research and to help fund getaways for children with diabetes from poor backgrounds.

See the latest news headlines from The Argus:

More news from The Argus

Follow @brightonargus

The Argus: Daily Echo on Facebook - facebook.com/southerndailyecho Like us on Facebook

The Argus: Google+ Add us to your circles on Google+