A GRIEVING father has been forced to re-live the past — after losing his daughter to the the same condition which took his wife.

Matthew Powell's daughter Katie was just 25 when she died last month — her premature death echoes that of her mother Sheridan who died 18 years ago at the age of 29.

Former George Tomlinson school pupil Miss Powell, who had health problems including Type 1 diabetes, died on September 20 at Royal Bolton Hospital after suffering internal bleeding following a run of ill health.

Baker Mr Powell, aged 47, said: "I'm numb at the moment. I have been re-living everything that happened with her mum all over again, although this is harder because it is my own daughter.

"Since her mum's death I have re-married and moved on but this has brought it all back. It's been really hard but thankfully I have a really supportive family around me."

Mr Powell said his daughter was a "bubbly, independent woman" who did her best to live a normal life despite being born with caudal regression syndrome — a rare condition that impairs the development of the lower body, meaning she had to use a wheelchair.

Katie's disability came about because of her mother's diabetes. She was aged just seven when her mum died from kidney failure, caused by her diabetes.

Mr Powell said: "When she was born she was only 2lbs 11oz, so she was very small. Her mum had a very difficult pregnancy and when she gave birth Katie was in a baby unity for a while and a nurse said, 'your daughter will never walk'.

"But Katie always tried to prove them wrong and managed to walk a little on her own. She was so independent and so bubbly, bright and beautiful."

Caudal regression syndrome is estimated to occur in 1 to 2.5 per 100,000 newborns, but when the mother has diabetes that figure drops to approximately 1 in 350.

Like her mother, Miss Powell developed Type 1 diabetes aged 16 and struggled to cope with injecting insulin.

Father-of-four Mr Powell said: "Her mum had diabetes from the age of 12 or 13. Katie was only young but she used to watch her mum inject herself with insulin and saw how the disease affected her.

"Her mum eventually had to go onto dialysis because she had kidney failure, so the diabetes contributed to her death.

"When Katie got diabetes, she was only young so didn't worry at first — but I did.

"She had problems injecting her insulin at first because she didn't like needles and had to change her diet to cut out sugary food which was hard because while all her friends could eat and drink what they liked, she had to be careful."

Miss Powell studied performing arts at Pendleton College but she was unable to pursue a career on the stage.

She was a keen Bolton Wanderers supporter and also a big fan of singer and X Factor star Joe McElderry, whom she met at the Macron Stadium in 2012.

Despite all her health problems, Miss Powell was determined to be independent and moved into her own bungalow in Little Hulton in January.

Mr Powell said: "Katie loved performing and it came through in her big personality. She used to put on shows with her cousins Megan and Christie and would dance in her wheelchair.

"She always wanted to live life to the full the best she could. She always felt like she was failing though because she was unable to work, but she did some voluntary jobs around Bolton including one at the library. She was so strong and so positive."

Miss Powell suffered a cardiac arrest in March and spent 11 days in a coma.

She pulled through and had a short spell of good health until she began getting severe pain in her stomach in the weeks before her death.

Mr Powell said: "Her death was sudden. Two days before she went to A&E because she was in agony and had to be admitted because the pain wouldn't go away.

"We were with her all the next day and then she was moved to high dependency overnight, before she died of an intestinal haemorrhage, which is likely to be related to her diabetes.

"I just hope that by talking about this, people will realise just how important it is to control diabetes properly because if you don't, it can be a killer."

Miss Powell's funeral was held yesterday at Overdale Crematorium.

An inquest into Miss Powell's death been opened by Bolton Coroners' Court and a provisional date set for December 21.

CAUDAL REGRESSION SYNDROME

CAUDAL regression syndrome (CRS) is a disorder that impairs the development of the lower half of the body.

People with caudal regression syndrome may have small hip bones with a limited range of motion and underdeveloped legs and kidney, bowel and bladder problems.

It is estimated to occur in 1 to 2.5 people per 100,000 newborns.

When the mother has diabetes that figure drops to approximately 1 in 350.

It is believed that increased blood sugar levels [in the mother] and other metabolic problems related to diabetes may have a harmful effect on a developing fetus, increasing the likelihood of developing CRS.