In the words of the amazing Taylor Swift, its been a long time coming, welcome to my lemon era! Ok, well she didnt say exactly that, but Swifities are now all singing the opening bars of Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince and remembering the opening scenes from the Eras tour...oh happy days!!

Anyhoo back to the purpose of the blog...and I promise this is not going to be full of Taylor Swift although I cant guarantee there wont be the odd lyric, album cover or excited squeal whenever something new drops! But in the spirit of sharing - and despite it being too early for anyone to ask me, my name is Debbie and despite first impressions, I am old enough to know better!

So, this is my first blog post for Lemon Essential; whats it all about, why, omg not another blog, yawn!

I decide to start this as, despite spending far too much time on IG and social media in general, I just wasnt seeing anyone like me (entirely possible I was looking in the wrong place!). So whats so special about you I hear you say???

About 15 months ago I was diagnosed with Diabetes - originally they thought it was Type 2 and sent me away to clean up my diet but, a comprehensive blood test later and they moved the goalposts to a diagnosis of Type 1. But, still no medication, no insulin just diet management only...

At this stage I have no real idea whats going on - entirely possible the diagnosis is wrong, I coud be in the'honeymoon phase' (OMG how I hate that expression!!) and will need insulin later or this is Type1.5 or LADA. TBH I dont really care anymore, life has handed me lemons and I have spent the last year or so learning how to make, if not lemonade, then lemon dressing, lemon salad, lemon salmon, lemon tea...you get the idea!

Diabetes of whatever flavour doesnt define me, it has made me change my life, my mindset and my health and right now, life looks better than ever. And I want to share everything I have learnt, the healthy eating recipes, the amazing brands that I love, the healthy mind tricks that got me through tough days.

Above all, I want to learn to share how to look forward when life hands you lemons and to find your own way to turn it into lemonde, or pink fizzy sparkling pink lemonade!