Harmony, aged five and from the BD10 area of the city, was diagnosed with the condition on July 28, while on a family trip to the seaside.

After developing a rash, her mum, Brogan Rollin, took her to A&E, where staff discovered dangerously high glucose levels of 29, a stark contrast to the normal range of four to seven.

“It was a major shock,” her mum said. 

“At the time, I didn’t know too much about it.”

“Just a month before, she was eating normally. Suddenly, we were thrown into a world of insulin, sensors, and constant monitoring. Everyday life has been very different ever since.”

Harmony now wears a glucose sensor on her arm, which is changed every two weeks, and is preparing to receive an insulin pump in October. Until then, she requires insulin every two hours and before meals, a huge adjustment for the family.

Brogan praised the hospital care as excellent, but once home, she said she felt “lost”.

“Not in terms of medical care, but in finding others who understood what we were going through,” she said. 

Determined to change that, she set up a Facebook group called Harmony’s Diabetic Bradford Army. 

In just a few weeks, the group has already gained 70 members. It’s become a place for parents to share experiences, tips, and encouragement.

“There’s a real need for connection. I’ve had mums message me saying thank you, that it’s helping them feel less alone, but it’s hard to get in contact with everyone who needs support,” she said. 

The group is hoping to introduce weekly events like coffee mornings at Rockwell Community Centre, with plans for more activities, including soft play for young children and adapted sessions for teenagers. 

A local dance teacher has been approached to run sessions for children with diabetes, and in October, members will take part in an eight-mile wellbeing walk in Manchester to raise awareness and funds for the group’s events. 

“I just want these families to know they’re not alone,” Brogan told the Telegraph & Argus.

“This group is for them, to talk, laugh, cry, and support each other through it all.”