DIABETES sufferer Shane Board knows all about the condition’s postcode lottery.

The 23-year-old was forced to swap Poole Hospital for the Royal Bournemouth to get a piece of medical technology that has revolutionised his life.

“I use an insulin pump, but I had to change hospitals to get it because it became apparent they would not offer me one at Poole,” he explained.

“Luckily, all I had to do to get the treatment I needed was to pop across to Bournemouth – it is not right that the same treatments are not available to all.”

Shane, from Poole, who has established his own web-design company, spoke to the Daily Echo after being selected by the JDRF charity to attend a Westminster lobbying event next month He will be one of 60 people campaigning on the postcode lottery and for increased research funding.

JDRF, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is a globally-recognised organisation focused on type 1 diabetes.

Shane, who was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged 10, said: “I used to work for another UK diabetes charity but JDRF places much more emphasis on research.

“Yes, diabetes sufferers need support, but it is research that will eventually prove the most beneficial. The problem is budgets are being cut, so the amount health providers are willing to spend on diabetes – particularly things like insulin pumps – is a lot less.

“But if investment doesn’t happen now, decades down the line the NHS will end up paying much more.”

Shane will take part in the ‘Type 1 Parliament’ discussion event in the Houses of Parliament on April 25.

Diabetes: factfile

• There are 2.9million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes, a condition in which the amount of glucose in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.

• A further 850,000 people are estimated to have Type 2 diabetes but not know it.

• Type 1 diabetes develops if the body cannot produce any insulin and usually appears before the age of 40.

• Type 2 diabetes develops when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it properly.

• In most cases Type 2 diabetes, which is on the increase, is linked to being overweight.