A Douglas woman has raised over £4,000 for Diabetes Isle of Man to mark World Diabetes Day.

Sarah Jones took part in a 10-hour ’rowathon’ on Sunday, November 14 at The Meadow CrossFit gym.

Back in November 2011, Mrs Jones’ husband Frank was rushed into hospital and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 24 years old.

On her fundraising page, Mrs Jones said: ’For days/weeks before Frank was diagnosed, he had become incredibly tired, was extremely thirsty all the time (one of the biggest signs of undiagnosed diabetes) and had visibly lost weight.

’On the night that he was admitted to hospital, I remember the doctor telling him that a normal persons blood glucose levels should be between 4 and 7 but Frank’s were 55. The highest the doctor had ever seen.

’It has been a huge life adjustment but since the day he was diagnosed, Frank has not let it beat him.

’And although I know it gets him down from time to time, he never complains and just gets on with it even though some days I have seen just how hard it can be.’

Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood to become too high, which happens when your body cannot produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose. Those with diabetes therefore need daily injections of insulin to keep their blood glucose levels under control.

To mark Diabetes awareness month, and the 10-year anniversary of her husband’s diagnosis, Mrs Jones rowed for 10 hours straight, only stopping for short food and water breaks and to stretch.

Asked how she was feeling following the challenge, Mrs Jones said: ’I’m not feeling too bad considering. A bit of a shoulder injury but hopefully physio tonight will sort it.

’The day went really well. [I had a] huge amount of support throughout the day with family and friends and people that I would not have expected showing up to cheer me on and row with me.

’There was a point between 5-7 hours where it became pretty difficult and didn’t think I would make it, but the support was just immense and got me through to the end.’

She added: ’The amount raised currently stands at £4,105 and is still climbing each hour which is just unbelievable.’

You can still donate to her fundraiser at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sarahjones-rowathon