A man from Bexley will be running a half marathon for Diabetes UK after he was diagnosed with the condition himself.

Brian Hoadley, 35, will tackle the Royal Parks Half Marathon after he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes to let people know it "doesn't have to be a barrier for fitness."

For the first 18 months after his diagnosis in 2014 Brian struggled to regain his fitness levels by balancing his glucose levels with exercise.

He has been training hard for the challenge which will see runners race through Hyde park, Green park, St James' Park and Kensington Gardens.

Brian, an operations manager, said: "“I had been avoiding doing anything too active since my diagnosis. The few times I tried, it always ended up with some really unstable bloods, both high and low. To me, that was reason enough to not exercise.

“This is the year that I stop letting diabetes be a barrier to enjoying exercise and fitness. I know now that it wasn’t really diabetes stopping me, it was me stopping me!

“If taking part in the Royal Park’s Half Marathon inspires just one person to get active then it will be a worthwhile exercise. In the process, I am hoping to raise funds for Diabetes UK to continue with the great work they do for all people with the condition.”

People with Type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin. About 10 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 1. No one knows exactly what causes it and it isn’t currently preventable

Roz Rosenblatt, Diabetes UK head of London, said: “The Royal Parks Half Marathon attracts 16,000 runners a year because it is such a beautiful route - the perfect setting for Brian to help raise awareness as well as vital funds to help people living with diabetes."

The half marathon is on October 8.

To sponsor Brian click here.