Watch NZH Local Focus: The positive power of peers

Baylee Knibb is an ordinary 15 year old - with an extraordinary meal time ritual.

Before eating she has to prick her finger, check her blood sugar levels and, often inject her own stomach.

"I was 12 when I was diagnosed with diabetes," Baylee says.

More than 260,000 people are recorded as having diabetes in New Zealand. Only around 2% are under 20. And that can make it an isolating experience.

"I was like I don't even know what diabetes is, like this is crazy."

Before being diagnosed, Baylee had lost 10 kilograms, wasn't sleeping and was guzzling litres of water daily.

Memories she shared with other local diabetic teens, as they came together for a fun day out at Splash Planet.

Paediatric outpatient social worker Yvette Macdonald says organising events like this are an important part of her job.

"We know with teens that their peer support, their peers are such bigger influences than I ever will be."

It's the first year an event like this has run. It's not currently funded by the Government - and was paid for by businesses and donations from health workers.

Baylee says the day is a good opportunity to chat with others about what they are going through.

Ms Macdonald says, "All of these guys are going to transition to adulthood very soon and therefore taking on their own management, and we want to make sure they do that well and not end up as one of the statistics."

Baylee is determined to live a long life. And she hopes to keep life-long contact with friends she made from the diabetes support group.

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