Two years ago this August Maisy Archer was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

What should have been a carefree lifestyle for the three-year-old and her parents Charlotte, 39, and Gary, 35, turned into a routine of injecting and anxiety which changed the family-of-four's home-life hugely.

But now, Maisy is aged five and has learnt to control her diabetes by administering her own insulin shots.

And her mum, a former teacher, is running a half marathon in September in celebration of how far the family have come in the past two years, and to raise money for the charity Diabetes UK.

Mrs Archer, of Bond Street in Norwich, said: 'Until something like this happens to you it's very hard to understand.'

She added: 'I can't believe it's been two years – it's a real milestone for us and looking back I can't believe how far we have come.'

Type 1 diabetes is a life long condition which prevents the body from producing insulin, which creates energy.

As a result of this, close monitoring of blood glucose levels and regular daily insulin injections is needed.

Mrs Archer hopes the funds raised will continue research into the disease, and that one day a cure will be found.

She said: 'It is really very difficult as a mother to see your child suffering, and in the beginning, injecting Maisy with the insulin was difficult.

'We felt like we had lost our little girl. Maisy found it difficult to express how she felt, and for my husband and our two-year-old son Zack, it really was a life changing experience, but on that brought us closer together.'

Both of Maisy's parents left their jobs to support their daughter, and Mrs Archer says her half marathon is a thank you to their friends, family and Maisy's school, Recreation Road, for all their support.

To sponsor Charlotte visit www.justgiving.com/ charlottearcherfundraising