Tributes have been paid to a mum who was “special in every way” after she lost her battle against diabetes.

Jodie Christie, 40, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 17, died last Tuesday following a third heart attack.

The mum-of-two from Deal had endured decades of ill health due to the condition and was too weak to be considered for the kidney and pancreas transplants she required.

Hundred of comments and condolences have been passed to her husband, professional wedding photographer David Christie, who announced her death on Facebook.

He told the Mercury that a premonition led him to go to his wife’s bedside at Kent and Canterbury Hospital at 1am last Tuesday. He held her hand for five hours until she passed.

The teen sweethearts would have celebrated 25 years together next month.

He said: “You don’t meet women like Jodie. She was just special in every way.

“She never moaned even at the end. She didn’t want people to treat her any differently because of her illness.

“She was funny, family orientated, just a lovely person. We had an amazing laugh together.”

Mrs Christie had spent the last three years in and out of hospital. As well as developing Crohn’s, reflux disease, circulation problems resulting in the recent loss of her wedding finger and some sight loss, she suffered a heart attack earlier this year.

She returned to her Marlborough Road home for a short period in August when the Mercury wrote about her online appeal ‘Reach Out’ which was to raise funds for a wet room - money which Mr Christie says will now go to JDRF - a type 1 diabetes charity.

Since then, she suffered two more heart attacks, the last of which resulted in her being put into a drug induced coma.

The couple who met at Deal Secondary School married at Ramsgate Register Office in May 2002 and have two children together, Callum 22 and Nicole,17.

They filled their years together making special memories including holidays and days out.

Mr Christie said: “We tried to do as much as possible, where we could.

“We loved spending time together. We had the same interests; fishing, snowboarding, storm chasing.

“She was a massive animal lover. She loved her kids. She was like an old school mum. She would do everything for us.

“She was such a nice person. Judging from the comments, she made such an impression on people.

“I’ve known all my life that at any moment she could go but when it happened it was just unbelievable and it still is.”

Mr Christie has previously spoken about the lack of understanding surrounding Type 1 diabetes.

His wife’s changing sugar levels meant she could pass out and fit. She required insulin injections five times a day. She also suffered with constant sickness and needed dialysis three times a week.

He said: “Jodie’s been tortured for years. It was almost like being sat on a chair with your hands tied behind you, just watching your wife be tortured, brought to the edge of death and back again. There’s no other way to describe it.

“She would have ended up losing her limbs, her eyesight and getting dementia. It destroys every single part of you.”

He’d like to continue to raise awareness and remind people of the importance of organ donations.

He has also thanked everyone for their support.

Mrs Christie's funeral will be at St Nicholas Church in Sholden at 11am on Friday, November 2 and afterwards at Deal Town Football Club. Anyone who knew her is welcome. No flowers but donations to JDRF. It is requested that people wear something purple, her favourite colour.