For almost 50 years Karl Royer has lived with type one diabetes after being diagnosed aged eight.

The software engineer has ended up in hospital on numerous occasions, including in his 20s, when he not only received life-saving care but met the woman he would later call his wife.

She was one of the nurses who diligently cared for him as he lay unconscious in hospital following surgery.

Little would they know love was soon to blossom and, three years later in 1995, they were married.

Now, Karl and German-born Simone, who has recently returned to nursing at the Pilgrims’ Hospice, have a son and daughter and live in Marshside, near Herne Bay.

Karl, 56, told of the difficulties he has faced managing his condition, which prevents his body from producing vital insulin.

“My parents were very knowledgable about type one diabetes and became very anxious if I was out with my mates when I was a teenager in case I became hypo,” he said.

“It’s a relentless condition but I just learned to live with it and manage my diet.”

But Karl was determined it would not stop him living an active life, including skiing, sailing and cycling.

And it is the latter which is about to set him his toughest sporting challenge so far.

Because next month, with friend and neighbour Simon Smith, also 56 and a gardener, he is cycling 1,200 miles to Austria - crossing the Alps twice - to raise money for Diabetes UK.

Starting on June 12, they have plotted a route from England through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Lichtenstein before arriving in Austria around a fortnight later.

Meanwhile, a third friend, Olaf Throndsen, 57, who works in property management and lives in Birchington, has also joined the challenge in a different way, rowing 10km a day on a static rower to match Karl and Simon’s efforts.

He started his part of the challenge in February and aims to “virtually arrive” on the same day as his friends, having put in 1,200 rowing miles.

Karl said: “A lot has changed in the time I have lived with diabetes, but more funding is needed for research to find a cure and help with new treatments.

“I want to help with that and over the years have wondered how long it would take to cycle from my home to the Austrian Alps - a journey I’ve done in the car several times for skiing trips and seeing family.

“My neighbour Simon said he would join me on the challenge and we were busy planning the journey back in 2020 but obviously couldn’t do it because of Covid and lockdowns. I also lost my father at that time and had health problems.

“There have been further challenges since, with injuries including the need for eye surgery recently, but our training continued throughout and we are now really looking forward to getting going.”

The pair recently completed the 125-mile route of the Pilgrims Hospice charity ride as part of their training.

Karl has a fundraising page and is hoping to reach £10,000 for the charity. Go to https://bikeride.bigmight.com.

Diabetes is a condition where your blood glucose (sugar) level is too high because your body does not make any, or enough of, a hormone called insulin or it does not work properly.

If not managed well, it can lead to devastating complications including sight loss, amputation, kidney failure and stroke.

About 8% of people with diabetes have type one. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it is not to do with being overweight and is not currently preventable.

It is the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse quickly.

Type one diabetes is treated with daily insulin doses - taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. It is also recommended to follow a healthy diet and take regular physical activity.