He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was four and his life has not been the same since.

``I'm scared that when I'm 20 I may have problems with my eyesight or kidneys,'' Brendan said. ``Many people think that `managing' type 1 diabetes means that I am able to `control' this condition.

``Unfortunately, this is not possible.''

Brendan will go to Canberra on March 18, joining hundreds of other children with type 1 diabetes to press the government for continued funding of diabetes research.

Type 1 diabetes suppresses the body's production of insulin, which processes the blood's glucose into energy.

Insulin injections can replace that, but diabetics must monitor their blood sugar levels and carefully calculate insulin amounts.

Brendan has an insulin pump attached, which automatically monitors his blood and injects insulin accordingly.

``But regardless of how well I manage type 1 diabetes, I'm still at great risk of having serious complications,'' he said.

Brendan has campaigned for research into diabetes and is a youth ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

``I have been lucky enough to meet some of the Australian researchers working on finding a cure,'' he said. ``I understand there's been a lot of progress, which gives me hope.''

Brendan has invited the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to meet him when he goes to Canberra.

``I would also like to meet Health Minister Nicola Roxon to thank her for increasing the subsidy for insulin pumps for type 1 kids,'' he said.

Brendan said that a cure for type 1 diabetes was the only thing that would make his life normal.

``I'd love to be an air force pilot, but I know this will never come true,'' Brendan said.

``It's hard to realise at 13 that your biggest dream will remain a dream.''