www.diabeteschannel.com.au

Home | Login or Become a Member  
Sitemap
  • Latest News
  • Latest Research
06 July 2010
Diabetes Awareness Week 2010
 
Diabetes Australia-NSW will be spreading the message across the state about the link between diabetes and kidney disease this Diabetes Awareness Week from 11-17 July.
 
25 June 2010
Congratulations to Jimmy Little on success at APRA awards
 
Diabetes Australia-NSW would like to congratulate Jimmy Little after he was recognised on Monday for his achievements in music.
 
07 July 2010
New type 2 diabetes medication may help in type 1
 
A new medication for type 2 diabetes may also benefit those with type 1, reducing the rise in blood glucose levels following a meal and possibly lowering insulin needs.
 
29 June 2010
Insulin pump prevents night-time hypos
 
A special insulin pump which uses continuous glucose monitoring to predict hypoglycaemia and stop delivering insulin can help reduce the number of overnight hypos, according to a new study.
 

60 years with diabetes: Barbara Holborow OAM

Barbara Holborow is known to many for the far-reaching difference she has made in her professional life as a former Children’s Magistrate. She is also known for her social commentary through the books she has authored.

But on World Diabetes Day Ms Holborow was recognised for a major achievement in her personal life. Living 60 years with Type 1 diabetes.

She was presented with a Gold Kellion Victory Medal by Diabetes Australia-NSW President Neville Howard during a World Diabetes Day event held at the Sydney Dialysis Centre.

'As you can imagine, I am so proud of living 60 years as an insulin-dependant diabetic,' Ms Holborow said, accepting the medal.

'I’ve had to conquer it - and I’ve conquered it many times.'

Her presentation was made after the announcement of the 2004 Diabetes Australia Research Trust grants which saw $2 million go to diabetes research projects around the country.

Ms Holborow recalled the day she was diagnosed at age 13 – it was the first time she had ever seen her father cry, as he sobbed at her predicament.

'I had to learn to take my own insulin. Nobody told me what a hypo was… nobody knew,' she said.

Diabetes management in those days was more difficult, more primitive and more painful, but Barbara also remembers the anxiety that accompanied the condition.

'You would test blood [glucose] levels in test tube with blue fluid and two or three drops of urine - and you would pray that the fluid didn’t turn brick red.'

Even if she knew she hadn’t eaten anything wrong to cause the brick-red result, she would still feel guilty seeing how much her mother suffered when this result showed up.

She addressed the researchers again:

'With your help, no 13-year-old will have to go through that - just keep on going there.'

Yet, Ms Holborow has never let diabetes get in the way of her plans and served many years in the Australian legal system including as a Magistrate of the Children’s Court. She has also been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

Ms Holborow said 'children are my life,' particularly her own child and 8 foster children… for this reason she is grateful to today’s diabetes researchers.

'Every child that is a diabetic, or potentially a diabetic, is your responsibility,' she told them.

'I want to say thank you to all the researchers who have worked for a cure for diabetes, because I wouldn’t be here without you.'

Billboard
Diabetes simulation
Watch, listen and learn how you could be affected by diabetes.
Diabetes in the Family booklets
Download these helpful booklets.
Become a hero!
Share your unique and inspiring story
Downloads and links
Find useful fact sheets, links and downloads.
Recipe of the week
Healthy and nutritious meals every week.
Issues
Our member magazine. Latest edition out now.