✨RUN FOR TYPE1 ✨Tia is running for TYPE1 at the Noosa Half Marathon. She shares her story with us ➡️
✨RUN FOR TYPE1 ✨Tia is running for TYPE1 at the Noosa Half Marathon. She shares her story with us ➡️
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 15 years ago at 14 years old. At the time of diagnosis, I was competing in lots of music eisteddfod competitions, and I have a distinct memory of drinking a litre of water at one and getting onto the stage and being so thirsty just minutes after drinking all that water. I was sick for approximately a month before I was diagnosed, and it was only because mum insisted on them doing more tests that they even checked my glucose levels.
We have no diabetes (type 1 or type 2) in my family at all. In the lead up to the diagnosis I was constantly tired, thirsty, irritable and in the last week lost about 4kg in weight. I also was having trouble breathing and my heart was racing because I had such low potassium levels from drinking so much water. The doctors had told us I “just had a virus”.
I feel very lucky to have had an amazing support system around me when it came to having type one diabetes - but it hasn’t always been easy. Type 1 is with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. You don’t get a break. It isn’t just me that it impacts – it impacts everyone around me. It is only as an adult now that I realised how hard it must have been for my parents at times.
I had a paediatrician who always said to me – “We are learning from how you are managing your diabetes”. He was the most amazing support and empowered me from day 1 that I can do anything and that it was okay to ask questions and find answers. I have learnt to question health practitioners and always seek the best advice and team for me. What works for one person won’t always work for another and what works for some time, won’t always stay the same.
After leaving school I went and studied nutrition for 3.5 years but decided to not finish the last year of the course as I had learnt what I needed to learn for myself. I’m now 29 and work in public libraries. Every day I have people ask me what is on my arm (I usually have the Dexcom g6 on my arm and sometimes the Omnipod on the other arm) and I use it as an opportunity to empower people to take responsibility for their health and choices. I find being honest with people and open to have a conversation is the best thing I have done. I think the part I find hardest about type 1 is that there is no cure and I know that even if we do find one, I need to be the most well version of myself regardless.
Having to ask for help can be hard. But there are some days when you need that extra support.
I have been on injections for the majority of the last 15 years apart from a small time on the Medtronic pump when I was about 21. It didn’t work well for me due to me leading a very active lifestyle and I constantly had cannulas come out. I currently use Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring and have just transitioned to Omnipod. I am stoked with the flexibility and freedom this has given me. My healthcare costs are more than $10 000 a year for something I couldn’t have prevented. I would love for everyone to have access to these technologies, so I have started volunteering my time with Type 1 foundation and I have just signed up to do the Noosa half marathon in May 2022 to advocate for these things. Everyone should have these options available to them and everyone should feel able to get the best support team that works for them. I would never wish type 1 on anyone, but I will always be grateful for who it has made me and what it has taught me.
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Link to fundraising page: https://www.mycause.com.au/p/268961/type-1-tias-first-half-marathon-may-2022?fbclid=IwAR1r5qGAEydZGCE9W221aGfGr59GQ7F8EeT9kDZG_ksSRe37ZmzLoLzCL8E