Theresa May reveals all about living with diabetes – but vows not to let it hold her back as Prime Minister
THERESA MAY has opened up about living with diabetes - but vowed not to let it hold her back in life.
The Prime Minister revealed yesterday she has to inject herself with insulin up to five times a day.
She told ITV's Robert Peston during a Facebook live interview that fellow sufferers should not allow the illness to hold them back.
Following her diagnosis in 2012, the PM's type one diabetes means she has to keep a constant track of the glucose levels in her blood.
She was asked about her own experience by a fellow diabetic yesterday.
Mrs May said: "I am a type one diabetic. That means when I eat, I have to inject insulin, which I do.
"I will be injecting myself four or five times a day... You just get into a routine.
"You depend on that insulin and you just build that routine into your daily life. The crucial thing to me is being a diabetic doesn't stop you from doing anything."
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But the interview was hijacked by a question from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
He posted on Facebook to ask why the PM is refusing to take part on a TV debate with him.
The first seven-way leaders debate - which is due to take place on Thursday - will feature senior spokespeople from the main political parties.
Mr Petson read out: "Hello Theresa May, as Prime Minister you've served your elite friends by giving them tax cuts when wages have stagnated, house-building is at its lowest since the 1920s, there are 20,000 fewer police on our streets since 2010 and the NHS is in crisis.
"Do you not think the British people deserve to see me and you debate live and on television?"
Yesterday Mrs May again refused to say she would join - arguing that it was more important for her to talk to voters directly.
She said: "'I don't think people get much out of seeing politicians having a go at each other, I think people want to hear directly."
Mr Corbyn later tweeted: "It's weak leadership to hide from your own record."
The Labour leader has said he wants to face Mrs May in a head-to-head debate, but she has refused.
He said if she doesn't turn up to Thursday's debate, neither will he.
More than 14,000 people tuned in on Facebook to watch the interview yesterday afternoon.
But it was bombarded with angry face emojis throughout, where Mr Peston read out a range of questions from the public.
Mrs May also told viewers that she would have a free vote on fox hunting in the next parliament, and that it was not right to have a second independence referendum at the present time.