Through self-management and education, people with diabetes can live long and healthy lives. We meet one Western Australian who knows how it’s done.
Can people with diabetes live a long and healthy life? For Busselton retiree Allan Simons, the answer is yes. Now 83, he is eligible for a Kellion Victory Medal, an award which recognises those who have lived with diabetes for 50 years or more.
In 1975, at the age of 33, Allan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
“The specialist I saw back then was excellent,” Allan says. “He spelled out what I had, told me all the things I needed to do, and put me in St Anne’s hospital in Mount Lawley for a week or so to get stabilised. I soon signed up with Diabetes WA – and still have my original membership card!”
For Allan, staying active has been key to managing his diabetes. “I played lots of sport when young, so I was very fit and I was never a big drinker. I still exercise, go to the gym and play croquet to a reasonable level.”
He also tracks his diet closely.
“Back in 2011 I did the Diabetes WA Carb Smart course, and I’ve stuck to that and kept records since. I make it easy for myself by eating the same breakfast every day – cereal, fruit, toast, yogurt and chia – then I count my carbs for lunch and dinner and try and stick to the rule of more vegetable and less of the carbs and meat.”
He says he has learned to be vigilant about checking his blood glucose levels throughout the day.
“I’ve had some terrible hypos over the year, so now I’m pretty careful. I never drive without doing a test first. Even at 3am if I wake up and sense my levels are low, I will do a test. Keeping track of everything can be a bit boring, but it makes things easier when it come to carb counting and planning my meals.”
Allen says diabetes care has been transformed across the past five decades, making self-management easier than ever.
“When I was diagnosed, the needles were very big with glass syringes, and nothing was as accurate as it is now.”
These days, he manages his glucose levels with a continuous glucose monitor or CGM.
“That’s probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. I like the fact that the reader is really small and fits in my pocket when I’m playing croquet. I’ve been using it for more than two years now, and I’ve not had a hypo in that time.”
More accurate – and real-time – testing means that he no longer has to make regular treks to see an endocrinologist and can now manage his condition with quarterly visits to his GP.
Even at 83, Allan remains determined to live a full and healthy life and enjoys the chance – at education programs such as CarbSmart – to catch up with other West Australians who are managing diabetes.
“I just want to make the best of the time I have. I do like catching up with other people with diabetes as you meet other people who understand what you’re going through. It’s been a bumpy road at times but I’m still on it!”
Diabetes WA offers regular free Carb Smart courses to help you count carbs and self-manage your diet, as well as Type 1 Tech Nights to help you understand the latest products.
You can book online or contact us on 1300 001 880.
If you would like to apply for a Kellion Victory Medal, download the application form.
