Two very different stories of type 1 diabetes
In 2009 the Walk to Cure Diabetes is a celebration of hope and progress towards a cure for type 1 diabetes. This year, two of the participants from Melbourne – a healthy little girl and a middle aged woman battling health challenges – highlight the progress that has been made in diabetes management over the last few decades.
Billie is 8 years old and her family is one of the top fundraisers for the Walk to Cure Diabetes. She is on an insulin pump, which is proven to reduce the risk of diabetes complications. Despite the daily pain and burden of managing type 1 diabetes, her health prospects are improving all the time thanks to new knowledge of the disease and its complications.
Billie Angelone
Billie’s health is excellent but her mum Nicky is very aware of the implications of diabetes management. Nicky says that trying to get Billie’s blood sugar in the healthy range is like walking on a tightrope. “It’s a huge responsibility because it can affect her future health.”
Karen was 8 when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and is now in her early 40s. She lost a brother and several childhood friends to complications of type 1 diabetes. What’s more, she recently suffered a major heart attack, brought on by the stresses on her body.
Karen Irwin
Karen said, “I have a burning passion to help raise awareness of the disease and everything that goes along with it.”
Karen and Billie together joined the Melbourne Walk to Cure Diabetes in October. They reflect two of the many different faces of the type 1 diabetes community, but are joined together by shared hope for a cure.
Well done both of you. Keep staying healthy. We need a cure to help the lives of our dear ones.
Hi Karen and Billie.
My daughter and I both have Type 1 Diabetes as well – I hear you loud and clear!! The general population simply has NO IDEA of the difficulties and inconvenience we face on a daily basis. Thank god I saw this article on JDRF – Thank You!!
Hi, I'm Caroline.
My Mother was a Type 1 Diabetic & was dying when insulin was introduced. I now have 2 daughters with Type 1. One developed it @ the age of 30 (now on an insulin pump having injected 4 times a day) & the other @ the age of 40 & injecting 4 times a day. I was lucky I only had Gestational Diabetes with my 1st pregancy (which never developed further).
It is so important that more people become aware of the complications Diabetes causes & of the great need for a cure.